The City of Sault Ste. Marie proudly invites the public to a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a major waterfront revitalization project. The event will take place on Friday, June 27 at 10 a.m. at the newly rehabilitated Carbide Dock along East Portage Avenue east of the Cloverland Electric Cooperative Powerhouse.

This $38 million project—under construction since 2023—marks a new chapter for the city’s waterfront. Thanks to long-standing partnerships across federal, state, and local levels dating back several years, both Alford Park and the Carbide Dock are once again open to the public.

The ceremony coincides with Soo Locks Engineers Day, making the ribbon-cutting especially fitting given the dock’s historic and ongoing significance to Sault Ste. Marie’s maritime infrastructure. Attendees will have the opportunity to see the Viking Polaris cruise ship docked and fully utilizing the newly restored facility.

Now complete, the Carbide Dock serves as a modern port of entry for cruise passengers visiting the city. It is also capable of accommodating the 1,000-foot freighters that are iconic to the area. Importantly, the dock once again supports a public park that has fishing access—a critical element of the local culture and economy. Plus, it is a short walk from Downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

Speakers at the ceremony will include Senator John Damoose, Representative Parker Fairbairn, representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Mayor Don Gerrie. The event is expected to last about an hour and will give residents a chance to connect with local and state leaders while exploring one of the city’s signature redevelopment projects.

Prior to this effort, the dock had been closed to the public due to safety concerns. Adjacent Alford Park, located next to the Cloverland Electric Cooperative Powerhouse, had also been off-limits since 2016 because of deteriorating infrastructure. The site was originally owned by Union Carbide, which operated a calcium carbide facility there from the 1890s to 1960s.

This project restores the dock’s legacy as a hub of commerce, culture, and community—revitalizing a critical asset along the St. Marys River and opening a new gateway to Sault Ste. Marie.

The project was made possible by: MDOT, MIDNR, CLMCD, USDOT MARAD, EGLE, Senator Damoose State Appropriation, SmithGroup, C2AE, Roen Salvage, Elmer’s Crane and Dozer, G&J Site Solutions, Payne & Dolan, Roy Electric, Future Fabrication, Sailor Creek Contracting, Arrow Constructions