Michigan Legislature Trying to get Congress’ Attention to Fund new Soo Lock

An Upper Peninsula lawmaker wants Congress to finish a project it first put in motion nearly 20 years ago.

State Representative John Kivela is sponsoring a resolution encouraging Congress to come through with funding to replace two small locks at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie with one large one.

There is only one large lock in operation now and Kivela says if it were to go down it would be devastating to the state.

He says losing the lock for even a few months would cause unemployment in the state could jump to 24 percent because of how many jobs are tied to what comes through the locks.

The resolution recently passed a House committee and awaits a vote in the full House.