St. Lawrence Seaway officials issued Seaway Notice No. 1 earlier this week, establishing opening dates for the upcoming Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System navigation season.
The Welland Canal, which connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, is scheduled to open March 19 at 8 a.m. Eastern Time, followed by the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section, which is scheduled to open March 22 at 8 a.m. Eastern Time. Ship transits will be subject to weather and ice conditions. Transit restrictions may apply in some areas until after installation of lighted navigational aids.
The Soo Locks, which serve as the gateway to Lake Superior, will open March 25 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, according to the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
The coming season will be No. 63 for the venerable St. Lawrence Seaway System, which opened in 1959.