How did the United States bypass the Long Sault Rapids during the St. Lawrence Seaway project?

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To bypass the Long Sault Rapids during the St. Lawrence Seaway project, the United States constructed a canal and two locks to navigate around the Barnhart Island–Cornwall generating dam located at the foot of the rapids.12

Specifically, the U.S. portion of the project involved the following:

  • Canal Construction: A 16-km (10-mile) canal was built to bypass the rapids.3
  • Lock System: Two locks were constructed to manage the change in water elevation: the Bertrand H. Snell Lock and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Lock.2

These works were part of a broader agreement between the United States and Canada to create a deep-draft navigation channel, which also included the development of hydroelectric power in the International Rapids section of the St. Lawrence River.312