Stabenow, Peters Announce $40.7 Million for Infrastructure Projects in Sault Ste. Marie, Berrien County

Funding will Help Restore Carbide Dock Port Near Soo Locks, Complete US-31 Connection to I-94 in Berrien County

Friday, December 07, 2018

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award two grants totaling $40.7 million for infrastructure projects in Sault Ste. Marie and Berrien County. The $20.7 million will go towards repairs for the Carbide Dock Port, which is located on the same waterway as the Soo Locks and serves as a staging area for vessels needing emergency assistance. The additional $20 million will help directly connect US-31 to I-94 in Berrien County.

 

“Reliable and modern infrastructure is critical to Michigan’s economy and job creation,” said Senator Stabenow. “Today’s federal investment will help connect two important freeways in Berrien County and make important upgrades near the Soo Locks.”

 

“Michigan is a hub for international commerce and trade, and we need modern infrastructure to support our economy. I applaud today’s announcement that two key projects in Michigan will receive federal funding,” said Senator Peters, Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security. “The Soo Locks are critical to the flow of goods through the Great Lakes, and this funding will provide much needed repairs to the Carbide Dock Port. Connecting US-31 to Interstate 94 has long been a priority in Southwest Michigan, and I’m pleased that this federal funding will make that route a reality.”

 

The Carbide Dock Port in Sault Ste. Marie is located on the same waterway as the Soo Locks and the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. The funding announced today will rehabilitate the Carbide Dock Port and reconstruct connecting truck routes to the Dock.

 

The relocation of US-31 from Napier Road to I-94 in Berrien County will better provide a free flow of traffic between the two freeways. The funding will go towards the completion of the last two miles of the limited access US-31 freeway from Napier Avenue to I-94 in Berrien County.

 

The grant was awarded through DOT’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) transportation grant program, formerly known as the TIGER grant program. The BUILD program provides investments in key surface transportation projects around the country, which are awarded on a competitive basis for projects with significant regional impact.