Fed's Green Signal for Port Everglades Expansion
Port Everglades received key federal clearance to begin the next phase of deepening and widening its channels.
The port now can seek Congressional funding for a project that would generate thousands of jobs and maintain the region's leading position in international trade.
The Army Corps of Engineers approved the plan to deepen the port's main channels from 42 to 48 feet, as well as deepen and widen part of the Intracoastal Waterway, to accommodate the larger cargo ships that now navigate the world's trade routes.
"After almost two decades of study and research, we are confident that the Corps has developed a plan that keeps Port Everglades competitive globally so that jobs are sustained and created locally," said Broward County Mayor Tim Ryan.
The port improvements are designed to allow safe passage of deep draft Post-Panamex cargo ships, according to the release. While Port Everglades already receives some Post-Panamex ships from South Africa and Europe, the release said the ships must be loaded lighter than their capacity.
He added: "The plan also uses innovative solutions to address valid environmental concerns that have been raised by environmental stakeholders."
The project is expected to generate 4,700 construction jobs and nearly 1,500 permanent jobs, according to the port. The estimated cost of $374 million would be paid by Port Everglades user fees, federal money and state funding, with no local property taxes used for the work.
A key environmental component includes planting approximately 103,000 new nursery-raised corals in 18 acres of existing reef areas, and relocating approximately 11,500 existing corals to create two acres of artificial reef, and create three acres of artificial reef habitat for natural recruitment which will replace nearly 15 acres of existing hard-bottom reef habitat.
