Bids are now being sought to dig into the PortMiami channel to one of the deepest depths on the East Coast, moving the $220 million state and county project closer to construction.
The port project, which highlights Floridas efforts to capture growing international trade as well as the anticipated larger ships traveling through an expanded Panama Canal, is currently scheduled to begin construction in 2013 and be completed in sync with the canal work in early 2015, PortMiami announced on Tuesday.
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The work, which was spurred by Gov. Rick Scott directing $112 million from the state transportation budget to the project, is expected to also make the channel more efficient and navigational.
As the closest port to the Panama Canal, PortMiami is well positioned to capture new trade opportunities, and the deeper channel will enable the Port to double its cargo traffic over the next several years, PortMiami Director Bill Johnson stated in a release.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are soliciting the bids for the project that got clearance in April from environmentalist that had blocked the dredging to 52 feet.
The announcement was hailed by South Florida leaders.
The Deep Dredge project is critical to the future growth of PortMiami, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez stated in a release.
PortMiami will be one of only three U.S. Atlantic ports to be at the required -50 feet level in time to welcome the new generation of larger container cargo vessels arriving via the expanded Panama Canal.
The dredge project includes the restoration of more than 16 acres of seagrass in northern Biscayne Bay and the creation of over nine acres of artificial reef.
The Deep Dredge is one of the most important infrastructure improvements in the history of the Port, said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. It will provide a powerful economic boost to Miami-Dade County and create an estimated 30,000 jobs throughout the State of Florida.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
