Construction of the gates took more than one month to complete in Hoge’s facilities. After installation of the gates, landscaping and repair of the parking areas around the lock will be left to be completed by another to contractor.
The project was funded in part with a grant of $280,000 from the US Department of Transportation, Transportation Enhancement Program, through the State of Ohio Department of Transportation. The local match of $70,000 was raised by the New Bremen Historic Association. The goal of the project is to restore the lock as close as possible to its appearance when rebuilt in 1910. The total cost of the project is $1.25 million.
Accordimg to New Bremen Mayor Jeff Pape, "The beginning of our town was built around the canal, and to have the piece finished to show our history is a great thing."
The Lock One North project is one part of the clean up and refurbishment of the Miami and Erie Canal in New Bremen. New Bremen has dredged the canal and is placing stone on the banks as an erosion control measure.
The work, being done by Saintignon Construction of Celina, Ohio, includes the entire canal, south of Lock One North, that is within the village limits. The landscaping of Lock One North and the work along the canal is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer.