New $992 million Soo Lock one step closer to reality

The Detroit Free Press reports that U.S. senate approved funding Thursday for a new lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

The long-anticipated project has been approved for $922 million in funding as part of a $4.4 billion water infrastructure spending package.

In 2016, the Free Press reported that a report authored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security showed that a six-month closure of the existing Poe Lock in Sault Michigan could potentially cause the nation to go into a deep recession, closing factories and mines while halting auto production. Previous studies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have stated that even a 30-day shutdown of the Poe Lock could have an economic impact of $160 million, according to the Free Press.

Now that the bill has been approved by senate, it will be passed to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.

The Free Press also reports that construction of the new navigation lock could employ as many as 15,000 people.