Work began on September 11 in a replacement of $ 152.2 million in Everglades port of Fort Lauderdale, FLA.
The effort is led by Moss & Associates by virtue of a model of managing general contractor. The project budget increased last November to reflect the extended scope from its initial $ 90.9 million price label by the Broward County Commission.
The additional funds cover risk adjustments, the demolition of building 6 in Northport for staging, the installation of new high league balls and floating defenses for larger cruise ships and a change in water construction, which requires sea equipment and logistical changes.
Officials said that the highest inflation, exceeding the annual rate of 3% initially assumed until 2026, also contributed to the highest cost.
Mott Macdonald designed approximately 2,840 linear feet again in phase 1, with about 900 feet already complete. An United States Army Engineer Permission Permission Notice specifies that the replacement will add about 2,243 linear feet of steel pile wall, in some areas located up to 5.5 feet of water from the existing wall and with 6.25 feet of reinforced concrete.
The design includes the ground setbacks and anchors to strengthen the wall and use combined wall systems and concrete corks in certain sections. Federal planning documents indicate that the walls built more than 40 years ago have passed their design life, requiring replacement before future navigation improvements can be advanced.
The Everglades Port Replacement Program will eliminate the existing coastline and build new reinforced walls, expanding the width of the Baga up to 450 feet to support larger ships and improve long -term resilience. Image: Courtesy of Everglades port
Kris Pagán, head of the main project for Mott Macdonald marine structures, said that the work of his company “supports the goal of the port of serving as an economic engine for the county, but also guarantees the vitality of long -term infrastructure for one of the most critical ports in the country”.
Everglades port describes the design as a deeper and stronger wall placed outside the existing line, with the intervened space.
“The new wall, which is expected to last 75 years or more, will be installed a few meters outside the existing wall and the space between the walls will be filled,” according to the general view of the project.
The engineers also designed the wall to rise up to five feet in the future to address the increase in sea level and withstand hurricane storm tests, the reverse ascents and the use of waves.
Financing comes mainly from the business revenue of evolutionary port generated by cruise, load, energy and real estate operations. As a self -supporting business fund, the port is not based on local property tax dollars for capital projects.
In 2023, however, the port also received a $ 32 million resilience grant from Florida’s environmental protection department to support the northern entrance channel to replace. This award, according to port officials, emphasized the state’s support for the infrastructure, which guarantees both the safety of navigation and economic activity.
Complete substantially for moorings 1 to 3, friends 1st to 1D and the northern entrance channel of the north wall is scheduled for September 24, 2026, under the modification of the county contract. The construction of phase 1 is expected to be completed in December 2026.
The work is part of a broader marine infrastructure program that also includes heading replacement in Berths 16 to 18, scheduled to begin at the beginning of 2027. The masters and vision plans of Everglades port identify the renewal of the bull as one of the most important short-term capital projects in its 2025-2029 program, aligning the replacement and long-term resilience goals.
Port leaders claim that the header program is essential to maintain the role of Everglades as the main cruise and load center. “The engineers have designed the new wall as the surface of the existing wall, but it will be deeper and stronger to adapt to the planned deepening of the entrance channel and improve the stability of the wall,” says port documents.
