Florida Approves $150 Million in Seaport Improvements
Florida Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet have approved $150 million in bond proceeds to finance projects at Florida ports through the Seaport Investment Program

Port of Miami via Wikimedia Commons
Florida Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet have approved $150 million in bond proceeds to finance projects at Florida ports through the Seaport Investment Program.

Working directly with Florida seaports, the Florida Department of Transportation has identified a total of 16 projects to be funded under bond proceeds. All identified projects have been approved by Governor Rick Scott and the 2013 Legislature through the budget approval process.
Some of the projects approved to be funded include:
Port Everglades
Southport Turning Notch Extension
Bond Funding: $34.5 million
This project will lengthen the existing Southport Turning Notch from 900 feet to 2,400 feet at the existing depth of 42 feet. This project will provide for a minimum of five additional berths.
PortMiami
South Fisherman’s Channel Dredge III
Bond Funding: $25 million
This project includes the final phase of the Deep Dredge project. This project will include work necessary to dredge the cargo channels and berth, including deepening the entrance channel to a depth of 52 feet and deepening and widening the South Ship (Fisherman’s) Channel, the Turning Basins and the berths to 50 feet.
Port Manatee
Berth Rehab & Reconstruction Project
Bond Funding: $6.4 million
This project will rehabilitate portions of all Berths 6-11.
Jaxport
Blount Island Terminal Improvements
Bond Funding: $14.8 million
This project includes the phased development/re-development of container, break-bulk, automobile, and bulk terminal facilities, as well as wharf rehabilitation and paving, tenant building improvements, rail improvements, and drainage upgrades and repair.
Port Panama City
Container Terminal Expansion
Bond Funding: $2.2 million
The project includes removing a molasses tank from the container yard area, adding heavy pavement, expanding the port’s interchange gate to accommodate higher volumes, adding additional support plugs for refrigerated containers, adding a second mobile harbor crane capable of handling Panamax vessels and adding additional container handling equipment in the container yard.
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