Deepening the connecting channels permits the larger vessels of the present Great Lakes fleet to load to full capacity instead of light loading as is currently required and it permits continuing the replacement of the older vessels of the present fleet with larger and more economical vessels. Generally, provision of the project allows unrestricted and safe movement of the large vessels used in the Great Lakes commerce, including those vessels moving into the area through the St. Lawrence Seaway. One-way channels are provided in some of the connecting channels. The St. Marys River has the Middle Neebish Channel for upbound traffic and the West Neebish Channel for downbound traffic, while the Detroit River has the Amherstburg Channel for upbound traffic and the Livingstone Channel for downbound traffic. Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $1 million will be applied to: St. Marys River: Complete section F, part 2, Point Iroquois Anchorage area. Detroit River: Complete Pelee Passage Shoal removal. Supervision and administration___ Total_ $657, 100 120, 000 110,000 112, 900 1, 000, 000 The funds requested are required to provide for an orderly and economical rate of construction with completion as scheduled. Completed work-Great Lakes connecting channels St. Marys River: Three locks for deep draft navigation, a new power plant, a new lift bridge, service facilities and navigation channels and anchorage areas from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The completed modifications were constructed at a total cost of $66,133,600. Straits of Mackinac : Navigation channel between Mackinac Island and Round Island and removal of Poe Reef Shoal to a depth of 27 feet. The completed work was constructed at a cost of $449,000. St. Clair River: Navigation channels from the foot of Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair. The completed work was constructed at a cost of $3,169,000, Lake St. Clair: Navigation channel from the mouth of the St. Clair River to the head of the Detroit River. The completed work was constructed at a cost of $3.537.000. Detroit River: Navigation channels from the head of the river to Lake Erie, side channels to Wyandotte and Trenton, Mich., a turning basin at the lower end of Trenton Channel and a channel north of Belle Isle. The completed work was constructed at a cost of $21,699,000. Remaining work-Great Lakes connecting channels The River and Harbor Act of July 24, 1946, provides for replacement of the old Poe Lock with a new lock of the same name. The cost of construction is currently estimated at $40,300,000. Preconstruction planning is complete and lock replacement is presently underway. Detroit River: The River and Harbor Act of May 17, 1950, authorized extension of the turning basin at the downstream end of the Trenton Channel (west of Grosse Ile) and channel dredging near this turning basin. The current estimate for construction is $2.850,000. No work has been done on this feature. The River and Harbor Act of July 14, 1960, authorized deepening the Trenton Channel from 21 to 27 feet deep and 300 feet wide from its upper end to the upper Grosse Ile bridge (Wyandotte Reach), deepening from 21 to 28 feet deep and widening from 250 to 300 feet wide from the upper Grosse Ile bridge to McLouth Steel Corp. plant about 6.000 feet downstream from the bridge (Trenton Reach) to provide a turning basin opposite the McLouth Steel Corp. plant of a size and depth sufficient to handle loaded vessels having length of 700 feet. The current estimate for construction is $5,468,000. Channel deepening is presently under way. Non-Federal costs.-The estimated cost to local interests for reconstruction of submarine crossing is $60,000. Status of local cooperation.—No local cooperation is required in connection with the project, however, since parts of the work are partially or entirely in Canadian territory, the approval of the Canadian Government must be obtained for such work. The Canadian Government has agreed in principal to the construction of the compensating works, subject to approval of the detailed plans for construction. Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-No change from the latest estimate ($125,500,000) submitted to Congress. Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 Location and description.-Muskegon Harbor is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, nearly opposite and 80 miles east by water from Milwaukee, Wis., and 114 miles northeast across Lake Michigan from Chicago, Ill. This project provides for deepening the existing entrance channel and inner channel to Muskegon Lake to provide a safe draft of 25.5 feet commensurate with the Great Lakes connecting channels. Authorization.-1962 River and Harbor Act. 1 In addition, local interests have constructed docks, wharves, warehouses, and dredged slips and berthing areas, the cost of which is not available. Channels: PHYSICAL DATA Outer portion of entrance channel: 29 feet deep, 2,000 feet long with widths varying from 2,000 feet in Lake Michigan to 380 feet between the outer ends of the breakwaters. Inner portion of entrance channel: 28 feet deep, 800 feet long, with a decreasing width from 600 to 200 feet. Inner channel to Lake Muskegon: 27 feet deep, 4,100 feet long, and 200 feet wide. Status (Jan. 1, 1964).—Not started. Completion schedule.-Entire project, September 1964. JUSTIFICATION Waterborne commerce at Muskegon Harbor consists principally of coal, sand. petroleum products, and cement. Lake vessel traffic has averaged about 2,860,000 tons annually over the last 5 years of record and car-ferry traffic has averaged about 710,000 tons annually over the last 5 years (1958-62). Present depths are inadequate to permit the use of modern lake vessels and the larger oceangoing vessels using the St. Lawrence Seaway. Deepening the channels to depths equivalent to those being provided in the Great Lakes connecting channels will permit deeper loading of vessels using the harbor both for domestic and oversea commerce resulting in considerable savings in transportation cost. Also, improvement of Muskegon Harbor to connecting channels depth will provide a deepdraft harbor of refuge for any vessel in distress regardless of size on the east (Michigan) central shore of Lake Michigan. Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $560,000 will be applied as follows: Complete channel deepening_ Supervision and administration____. Total____. Funds requested for the budget fiscal year will complete the project. $524,000 36,000 560, 000 Completed work consists of constructing navigation structures and channel deepening. The Federal cost of these completed modifications is $1,900,992. Remaining authorized modifications None. Non-Federal costs.-The estimated cost to local interests for modification of existing berthing areas and docks is $490,000. In addition, local interests have constructed docks, wharves, warehouses, and dredged slips and berthing areas, the cost of which is not available. Status of local cooperation.-Assurances have not been requested. However, the Michigan State Waterways Commission, the local cooperating agency has been informally alerted as to the urgency for providing the assurances and the disposal easements. They have in turn contacted the city of Muskegon and the Michigan State Conservation Department (owners of the property over which spoil easements are required), in preparation of furnishing the assurances and easements. It is expected that the required assurances and easements will be furnished as required. Comparion of Federal cost estimate.-The current Federal cost estimate of $660,000 is the same as the latest estimate submitted to Congress. Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 NEW POE LOCK, ST. MARYS RIVER, MICH. (Continuing) Location and description.-The New Poe Lock is a feature of the project for the St. Marys River, one of the Great Lakes connecting channels. The St. Marys River connects Lake Superior with Lake Huron. The site of the Poe Lock is at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., about 14 miles downstream from Lake Superior at the St. Marys Falls Canal. The new lock will accommodate the largest vessel anticipated to use the improved Great Lakes connecting channels. Authorization.-1946 River and Harbor Act. Benefit-cost ratio.-2.1 to 1. Locks: Remove existing lock 704 feet long, 95 feet wide, and 16.6 feet deep. Construct new lock, 1,200 feet long, 110 feet wide, and 32 feet deep. 22-foot lift. The present Poe lock is 66 years old and had a depth of only 16.6 feet over the sills, which is inadequate for present deep-draft vessel traffic. The new Poe lock will supplement the existing MacArthur lock in passing all traffic, both present and prospective, which may be able to navigate the improved Great Lakes connecting channels. The Davis and Sabin locks have depths over the lock sills of only 23.1 feet which is inadequate for the present-day larger vessels and will be inadequate for the ever-increasing fleet of larger vessels expected to operate in the deepened connecting channels. The new lock will eliminate delays for the larger lake vessels because of special handling requirements in the MacArthur lock and will reduce hazards existing at the locks due to congestion during the periods of heavy traffic. The new Poe lock also will provide for passage of all deep-draft traffic through the St. Marys River during periods when the MacArthur lock is closed due to breakdown or necessary repairs during the navigation season. Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $5,500,000 will be applied as follows: Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal cost estimate of $40,300,000 is an increase of $1,300,000 over the latest estimate ($39 million) submitted to Congress. This change includes increases of $823,000 for higher price levels and $477,000 for cost of completed work. Summary construction program (PB−1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 DULUTH-SUPERIOR HARBOR, MINN. AND WIS., INNER HARBOR (Continuing) Location. The harbor is located at the extreme western end of Lake Superior. The improvement provides for deepening portions of existing channels used for coal, stone, grain, and other commodities. These areas include Allouez Bay, Howards Bay, portions of 21st Avenue West and North Channels, Upper Channel, and portions of South and Minnesota Channels. Authorization.-1960 River and Harbor Act. Benefit-cost ratio.-8 to 1. |