New Lock at the Soo project continues in second phase
SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have reported that the New Lock at the Soo project remains on schedule.
Major construction on the project is continuing with phases 2 and 3 this season with joint ventures Kokosing-Alberici, and Kokosing, Alberici, Traylor.
“Since resuming major construction this season, the Phase 2 contractor has placed 13 concrete caps, bringing the total caps placed to 68 and preparation for placement of new steel sheets, steel posts and concrete panel wall are in progress,” New Lock Senior Project Manager Mollie Mahoney said. “The Phase 3 contractor plans to focus on demolition of aging structures, extensive electrical work, bridge construction and coffer dam construction to allow for dewatering.”
Phase 3 excavation work will include blasting activities, which will be communicated with stakeholders as blasting activities get closer.
“Beginning May 30, the Hydro Plant tailrace closed to recreational boaters. The normal schedule for the tailrace is: closed Mondays at 6 a.m. through Saturdays at 6 p.m. and open Saturdays at 6 p.m. through Mondays at 6 a.m.,” New Lock Chief Mick Awbrey said. “The closure is necessary to ensure the safety of all boaters and marine construction workers as large barges, cranes and construction boats will be working in the area.”
Phase 1 included deepening the upstream approach to the New Lock from 24 feet to 30 feet deep so modern vessels can approach the New Lock at the Soo. Army Corps of Engineers officials said this phase concluded in August 2022, under budget and ahead of schedule.
Phase 2 includes rehabilitating the upstream approach walls to stabilize the existing approach walls allowing modern vessels to tie up and wait their turn to pass through the New Lock at the Soo. The estimated completion date for Phase 2 is summer 2024.
Phase 3 includes demolishing the existing Sabin Lock, excavation of bedrock, constructing the New Lock at the Soo chamber walls and floor, fabrication and installation of miter gates, installation of mechanical and electrical systems, installation of the innovative hands-free mooring system, rehabilitating downstream approach walls and constructing a new pump well. The estimated completion date for Phase 3 is summer 2030.
“The Detroit District is pleased to continue work with both joint venture contractors on Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the New Lock at the Soo,” said Lt. Col. Brett Boyle, Detroit District Commander. “We recently had a partnering meeting with Phase 2 and 3 contractors and are confident this project will continue safely and on time.”
Sault News
Budweiser Clydesdales get their sea legs on ferry Badger
LUDINGTON, MI – The Budweiser Clydesdales just wrapped up a week of appearances and events in Northern Michigan. Their visit to Michigan coincided with the Love Ludington Weekend, an annual festival in Ludington from June 9th through 11th.
This year’s festivities also included celebrating the city’s 150th anniversary. The eight-horse Clydesdale hitch paraded through downtown Ludington for ceremonial beer deliveries to customers and also stuck around after for public viewing and photos.
Their visit to Michigan ended as they boarded the SS Badger during its 70th season of making the journey back and forth between Michigan and Wisconsin. The Badger’s Director of Marketing and Sales, Shelby Soberalskai explained that the horses travel via semi-truck.
“For lack of better terms, it’s very comparable to a lot of the loads that we already carry,” Soberalskai explained. “Their crew actually backs the trucks on board with our crew assisting them.”
The Clydesdales team consists of ten horses, while eight of them will be hitched at a time. The ten horses are transported using three separate semi-trucks.
Soberalskai said the Badger is the only ferry that can carry a large load like that across the lake. She also described the process of backing the trucks onto the ship, saying it included making sure all passengers were accounted for and in the end only took around ten minutes since the Budweiser team has a “well-oiled operation” that she said worked very well with theirs.
Soberalskai also said that this is the second time the Clydesdales have sailed aboard the Badger. “It was a special treat for our crew and our passengers that they sailed with us in 2012. And so it was awesome to have them sail with us again, that we hope they’ll sail with us again in the future,” she said.
Read more and see photos here: https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/lakeshore/budweiser-clydesdales-ss-badger-ludington/69-66690eb3-49b4-49f5-85ba-a1517231528b?fbclid=IwAR2zs9V-Zg4YHEvW4If21OCTtc5jzNHsPcJYgefznc9IC0P3eooKomCkPZs
Obituary: Capt. Ron Brezinski
Veteran Great Lakes captain Ronald “Ski” Brezinski died June 10. Brezinski was a third-generation sailor on his dad’s side and a second-generation sailor on his mother’s side. His uncle on his father’s side of the family was first mate on the carferry Pere Marquette 18 when it sank in 1910. Still, Brezinski liked the idea of sailing, and shipped out as a deckhand in 1973, catching the Inland Steel steamer Clarence B. Randall. By the time he left the Randall three years later, he had earned his able-seaman’s ticket and was working as a wheelsman. For the next four years, he sailed on many of the Inland steamers, including the E.J. Block, L.E. Block and the Wilfred Sykes. In 1978, Brezinski wrote for his third mate license, first sailing aboard the Joseph L. Block.
Eventually earning his master’s license, he sailed as relief captain on the Edward L. Ryerson in 1993 before being appoint permanent master of Wilfred Sykes the next year. During his years as captain, he proved a patient teacher and mentored many of the next generation of sailors, many of whom eventually became captains and pilots. He retired from Inland in April 2005, but found that retirement was not for him, so the next year he went back to the lakes as relief captain on the World War II-era vessel Manistee. Health issues forced him to retire for good in 2013.
A long-time member of the fraternal International Shipmasters’ Association, he served as Grand Lodge president in 2006. Read more in the image gallery.
