Soo Locks Prepare for Closure

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is just about ready to close the Soo Locks for the season.

The MacArthur Lock will shut down for the winter at 7 am tomorrow.

The closure of the 800-foot lock will allow crews to perform routine maintenance before it re-opens in the spring.

The adjacent Poe Lock is scheduled to remain open through January 15th.

The Corps of Engineers says about 4,200 ships carry an average of 80 million tons of cargo through the Soo Locks every year.

Iron ore, coal and limestone are among the most frequently carried commodities.