News Release Header
For Immediate Release:
October 07, 2011

Media Contact:
Andria C. Muñiz
[email protected]
305-347-4962



Congressional Action on Port of Miami Deep Dredge Construction Agreement


In another step moving forward with the Port of Miami's Deep Dredge project, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee today gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permission to use state funding to complete the construction phase of the critical infrastructure project.

"This is another major milestone for the Deep Dredge," said Port Director Bill Johnson, "and keeps the project on schedule for completion in 2014 in tandem with completion of the Panama Canal expansion."

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee acted earlier this year. 

The State of Florida is contributing $112.5 million towards the $150 million project that will deepen the Port's channel to minus 50-feet.  This will allow the Port to accommodate the new generation of larger cargo vessels that will traverse the expanded Panama Canal.  The Port of Miami is the only port south of Norfolk, Virginia that will be at this depth in sync with the opening of the expanded Canal.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez thanked the County's Congressional delegation for moving the Deep Dredge forward including Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Frederica Wilson and David Rivera along with Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio.

County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, who oversees the Port of Miami legislative committee, applauded the Congressional action and also thanked Governor Scott for his strong support of the project.

For more information about the Port of Miami please visit www.miamidade.gov/portofmiami.


 

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PORT OF MIAMI-DADE