Revitalizing a Deep-Water Port in Sault Ste. Marie to Fuel Economic Growth
Carbide Dock in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the phrase “a rising tide lifts all boats” could easily be taken at face value. After all, this city is known for the Soo Locks, which famously see thousands of ships into and out of the United States each year. But the phrase has a deeper meaning. A short boat ride across the St. Marys River from the Canadian border, Sault Ste. Marie has strong roots in trade and tourism. When Sault Ste. Marie’s economy is thriving, the entire state benefits.
However, Sault Ste. Marie is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and it depends on aging waterfront infrastructure to maintain a strong economy. In the face of harsh winters off Lake Superior, some of the city’s docks and roads haven’t always been up to the task.
Crumbling Infrastructure
Carbide Dock, one of Sault Ste. Marie’s key deep-water ports, was originally built in the 1890s as a manufacturing site for calcium carbide and later repurposed as a storage area for large piles of road salt. The nearby park has long been the primary fishing grounds for locals, including the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Over the years, stormwater would sometimes mix with road salt and run into the St. Marys River, contaminating the local ecosystem. In 2016, a study revealed the extensive deterioration of Carbide Dock, leading to its immediate closure. Between the crumbling infrastructure and the environmental concerns, Carbide Dock posed safety risks to the community.
Today, C2AE and SmithGroup are working with the city to rehabilitate Carbide Dock and the connecting road, Easterday Avenue. Easterday Avenue is a truck route, residential road, and utility corridor—the only thoroughfare that connects to Carbide Dock. Therefore, the revitalization of Carbide Dock was closely tied to the improvements on Easterday Avenue, so much so that the Maritime Administration funded part of the road work.
Easterday Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
With the help of a dozen funding sources and input from 30 stakeholders, efforts to improve the dock and roadway are nearly complete. C2AE led the design and reconstruction of Easterday Avenue, including the addition of two roundabouts that will streamline the passage of heavy traffic at a reasonable speed to maintain pedestrian safety. C2AE also provided on-site construction administration and oversight for SmithGroup on significant improvements to Carbide Dock.
Addressing High Bids
In the early stages of this work, the City of Sault Ste. Marie anticipated $15 million in total construction costs for both projects; however, complications due to COVID-19 brought in unexpectedly high bids. Ultimately, the city accepted a $21.8 million bid for Carbide Dock and $10.7 million for Easterday, issuing immediate change orders to seek additional grant funding.
C2AE and SmithGroup supported the city in aggressively pursuing funding from a variety of sources, capturing and allocating the following:
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) - $20.7 million
State of Michigan Appropriations - $5 million
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Shore Power - $4.7 million
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Brownfield Redevelopment - $1 million
Michigan Economic Development Corporation - $1 million
Michigan Department of Transportation – Maritime - $1 million
Michigan Department of Transportation Category A Grant - $846,000
State of Michigan Port Grant - $500,000
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund - $300,000
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spark Grant - $716,600
City of Sault Ste Marie - $2.2 million
For additional cost savings, the project team employed innovative value engineering techniques to bring the Easterday Avenue project $1 million under the $10.7 million budget. By carefully evaluating the existing infrastructure, including a previous sewer separation project completed by C2AE 15 years prior, the team identified and salvaged newer structures, avoiding unnecessary demolition and replacement.
In another instance, C2AE negotiated with the city to allow more of Easterday Avenue to undergo construction at once, therefore reducing the amount of time and resources to reconstruct all 1.2 miles of Easterday Avenue.
Communicating with Stakeholders
Construction at Carbide Dock in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
C2AE and SmithGroup have coordinated with over 30 stakeholders during these projects, including federal and state agencies, private companies such as Viking Cruises and Morton Salt, and local institutions such as Lake Superior State University. The intricate process of aligning diverse objectives and securing the necessary funding from multiple grants added layers of complexity.
The project also required careful planning and coordination to ensure minimal disruption to the city’s critical transportation infrastructure and the nearby hydroelectric dam operations. Currently, the Soo Locks are also undergoing significant improvements, and Carbide Dock was used as a key staging area for barges carrying construction equipment to the Locks. Any delay or miscommunication would have had massive repercussions.
A Rising Tide
Revitalizing Sault Ste. Marie’s Carbide Dock and Easterday Avenue represents a pivotal investment not only for the local economy but for the entire region. As community builders, we at C2AE understand that economic development is cyclical: talent wants place, place needs business, and business needs talent. In other words, successful communities have the infrastructure that enables us to live, work, learn, and play.
These improvements support economic development from every angle. Carbide Dock is expecting 65 stops from cruise liners alone in 2025. Lake Superior State University plans to use this infrastructure to support activities at the nearby Center for Freshwater Research and Education. Residents will once again have access to a clean, safe fishing site. By breathing new life into its waterfront infrastructure, Sault Ste. Marie is not only uplifting its own economy but also setting a precedent for impactful, sustainable growth in the state.
