Construction is underway on the new lock at the Soo.
“The three major phases of the project remain on track with their timetables virtually unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic at this time,” the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a press release.
Contractors working on the lock are taking precautions to prevent catching or spreading COVID-19, according to an Army Corps spokesperson. They are being screened for symptoms, wearing face coverings and maintaining six feet of social distance in work areas.
The Soo Locks were declared “nationally critical infrastructure” by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, that added it’s essential to U.S. manufacturing and National Security.
The project is estimated to cost over $900 million dollars and be completed by November 2021. The Army Corps says it will generate over $70 billion in “annual benefits.”