U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, Dan Kildee and John Moolenaar are among a group of congress-members who have introduced bipartisan legislation to build a new lock at the Soo Locks.
The Soo Locks Modernization Act would authorize the funding needed to construct another Poe-sized lock, which is the largest of the two operational locks.
The Soo Locks are used to transport more than 80 million tons of commercial commodities every year.
Economic experts have long said the Soo locks are an essential part of Michigan’s, and the country’s, economy.
Officials said there have been no significant improvements to the locks in almost 50 years, and if a shutdown were to occur it could bring Michigan’s manufacturing industry to a halt.
