Seaway navigation season may end for the winter, but there's no slowing down for infrastructure renewal

At midnight tomorrow, the St. Lawrence Seaway will officially close for the winter season, ending a very successful and productive 2010 navigation year.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit the dedicated men and women who work at the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) headquarters in Massena, New York.  They informed me that the closing period is a very important and busy time at the Seaway, as it is their winter maintenance period.

This year’s maintenance period will be particularly busy with a number of asset renewal projects under way, including dewatering and covering locks.  The SLSDC’s 10-year Asset Renewal Program represents the first comprehensive effort to reinvest in and modernize the U.S. Seaway infrastructure.  Without such significant reinvestment in the Seaway, it would become increasingly difficult to maintain and keep open for business. 

Our Seaway professionals met their goal of keeping the Seaway open to vessels 99 percent of the time over the last year, which is vital for commerce.  In fact, a recent report found that 'the economic impact of a shutdown of either of the two U.S. locks would result in a loss to those dependent on this mode of transportation of $1.3-$2.3 million per day.'

The continued success of the Seaway is a sign that our nation’s economy continues to improve.  In fact, Pristine Pharma is planning to open a pharmaceutical production facility in Massena in February 2011 in order to utilize the Seaway, and expects to hire many local workers.  Pristine Pharma CEO Venkat Kakani remarked, “The close proximity to the St. Lawrence Seaway will also allow the company to ship its goods more easily to large markets."

I have no doubt that the winter maintenance period will be a very productive few months for workers on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Following this flurry of maintenance and modernization, the Seaway is set to reopen in late March for what promises to be another safe and successful navigation year.

Comments

[Harvey Botzman]

Bicycling along the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie shores is a delight akin bicycling along any scenic coastal area. The beauty of the River and these two Great Lakes is unmatched for the long distance touring (cyclotourist) bicyclist as well as the day riding cyclist.

New York State has a paved 4-10 foot shoulder striped from the motor vehicle lane on its NYS DOT maintained roads nearest the River's & Lakes' shore line. Other State's and Ontario Province have short & medium length off-road multi-purpose trails along the Great Lakes' shores.

In keeping with Secretary LaHood's ideas, bicycle tourists can travel to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway by Amtrak and VIARail, although their bicycles can only be transported by the few trains having baggage car service and only to stations having checked baggage service. Bicycle tourism certainly can be encouraged if some "stimulus" funds were released to Amtrak specifically for the purchasing/building new or converting existing railroad rolling stock into baggage cars to be used on Empire Service and other Amtrak routes servicing the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes region.

More importantly currently being designed as well as renovated passenger rail cars and train sets must include a section, in each car for the carriage of unboxed bicycles. Doing this will improve the economies of the Great Lakes states by furthering bicycle tourism development. One hundred and sixty seven Amtrak trains now have facilities for the carriage of unboxed bicycles. No trains in the Great Lakes region east of Illinois have such facilities.

Fear not cyclotourists who prefer to travel to their starting point by public transit. Greyhound, Trailways, Megabus, and other intercity bus companies now only require that bicyclists "bag" their bicycles in sturdy canvas or canvas like (1000d Cordura Nylon) bag.

[Michael E. Bailey]

That Seaway is a vital piece of our transportation infrastructure; and it is great news that traffic through the Seaway is increasing and more cargo going through. Cargo to and from U.S. ports is improving and railroad freight haulage is also improving and so are new orders from railroads to the car manufacturers for new railway cars. This is great for the entire economy because people are buying the goods being moved in merchant ship holds and carried in railroad freight cars. I think we are doing better than the European community is. I saw a couple of days ago where transportation increases in Europe arenot as strong, some modes are not recovering as well, and there was some concern based on freight transportation statisgtics about a double dip recession there. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[John at BWI Parking]

The photo reminds me of the canal walk.

To Harvey Botzman. That's a good news, I mean, it's just right to promote bicycling, and the view of the river and lakes are a perfect view to attract cyclist.

[v-pills]

Bicycling along the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie shores is a delight akin bicycling along any scenic coastal area.