Federal and state officials can agree on at least one thing in Michigan these days — the need for a new lock in Sault Ste. Marie.

U.S. senators and congressmen, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and several state legislators all have have visited the Soo Locks at different times in the past three months. Regardless of party or position, all agree that a new lock is definitely needed.

The latest group to visit — State Sen. Wayne Schmidt and State Rep. Lee Chatfield — did so Tuesday.

“Of the four locks, only one is large enough for today’s massive tankers to navigate, and if that were to be damaged or break down, the economic ramifications would be massive,” Chatfield said .

Indeed they would. A Department of Homeland Security report prepared last year said that if the locks were closed for a period of six months or longer, it would “temporarily cripple” the U.S. economy, that’s how important the locks are to the United States.

“Without the Poe Lock to move ore ships from Lake Superior, nearly all North American appliance, automobile, construction, farm and mining equipment, and railcar production would halt within weeks,” the report stated.

Last month Michigan’s congressional delegation and U.S. senators introduced bipartisan legislation — Soo Locks Modernization Act — to authorize funding to construct another lock at the Soo.

“Right now, we have the leadership we need at every level to push forward and get this project funded,” U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, said. ” That’s what this legislation is all about — investing in Michigan’s future — and I’m proud to be joined by a bipartisan majority of the Michigan delegation in introducing it.”

There is no question a new lock is very much needed at the Soo. We are glad federal and state officials all are in agreement as well.