CHEBOYGAN — The reopening of the Cheboygan Lock for the 2025 season has been postponed by nearly a week, with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources now targeting Friday, May 23.
The need for a new opening date is due to ongoing construction delays in a $5.96 million repair project.
The lock, which connects Michigan’s Inland Waterway to Lake Huron, has been closed since Sept. 29, 2024. The project includes extensive infrastructure repairs, such as dewatering the lock chamber for concrete work on the floor and walls, replacing the miter gate sills, assessing and repairing the gates and upgrading the lock’s hydraulic system.
Originally scheduled to reopen on May 17, the delay is attributed to minor construction setbacks, according to the DNR. Boaters planning to access the lock early this season are encouraged to visit Michigan.gov/DNRClosures for updates.
Built in 1869, the Cheboygan Lock provides seasonal access for recreational and commercial vessels up to 16 feet wide and 75 feet long. It holds 117,000 gallons of water and can raise or lower boats as much as 16 feet. More than 3,000 watercraft passed through the lock during the 2023 season.
Situated near the mouth of the Cheboygan River where it meets Lake Huron, the lock is adjacent to the Cheboygan Dam and the historic Cheboygan Crib Light. It is operated with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is a key connector between Mullett and Burt lakes and the Great Lakes.
For more information, contact the DNR Parks and Recreation Cheboygan Field Office at (231) 627-9011.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at 231-675-0099 and adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan Lock reopening delayed to May 23 amid construction setbacks
Reporting by Annie Doyle, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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