Work is continuing on major construction projects at Port Everglades. The port plays a major role in the economy of Hollywood and South Florida.
Port Everglades has about $900 million in infrastructure improvements planned for the next five years as part of a larger $1.6 billion capital investment program.
A major project that is now taking place is a $471 million berth expansion, the largest infrastructure project in the Port’s history. The Southport Turning Notch Extension will add new cargo berths by lengthening the Port’s existing turn-around area from 900 feet to 2,400 feet.
Part of this effort includes installing crane rail infrastructure for new Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes. Three Super Post-Panamax container-handling gantry cranes are currently being manufactured and the Port has an option to purchase three additional cranes within five years.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the preconstruction engineering and design phase of deepening the Port’s navigation channels from 42 feet to 48-50 feet and widening narrower sections of the channel for safe vessel passage.
Nationally recognized commercial developer CenterPoint recently broke ground on a state-of-the-art international logistics center at Port Everglades that will replace the Port’s outdated foreign-trade zone facility in Spring of 2020.
These projects, once completed and fully functioning, will significantly increase cargo and cruise passenger numbers, and is anticipated to generate 7,000 direct jobs in Broward County and 135,000 jobs throughout Florida, according to Ellen Kennedy, spokesperson for Port Everglades.
