The sound of motors and occasional digging sounds emanating near Lock 7 from the Welland Canal are the excavation crews from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation SLSMC, performing its annual maintenance, which began on Jan. 15 th.
Prior to this date, many sections of the canal were drained.
Repairs are being completed simultaneously at various points throughout the 600-kilometre waterway ensuring the lock system and structure meets operating standards, said Andrew Bogora, Communications Officer for the SLSMC.
This job is to be completed by mid-March allowing for shipping season to begin, which includes large vessels and ocean liners navigating
from about 50 different countries to North America.
Despite the warm winter climate and less ice in certain areas this year, the shipping season was not extended.
Bogora said the canal was never meant to be operational for the entire year.
“It’s basically a nine-month operation,” he said. Shipping traffic this past year also decreased mainly due to economic factors.”
While there were a few “unusual things” effecting the canal this year, they mainly concerned the upper St. Lawrence Seaway near Kingston and Montreal.
The “global cost” for the Seaway’s repairs is approximately $50 million.
While Bogora couldn’t give a specific price tag for Niagara, he said there is an “economic boost” for local businesses and contractors from the Niagara Region hired to do the work.
In addition, to overseeing the physical repairs, Bogora said the SLSMC manages the assets for the federal government.
Last March, the seaway celebrated its 60th year of navigation history.
