The Jacksonville Port Authority took another step toward addressing tidal restrictions in its shipping channel by signing an agreement Wednesday with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design improvements for an area of the channel known as Mile Point.
The confluence of the St. Johns River with the Intracoastal Waterway is known as Mile Point, an area that experiences cross-currents on the ebb tide.
The cross-currents cause navigational restrictions that affect vessels that have a draft greater than 33 feet inbound and 36 feet outbound, inhibiting the movement of vessel traffic.
Local, state and federal leaders who have worked to advance the project met at Talleyrand Marine Terminal for a ceremonial signing of the design agreement.
“I am confident that we will have the design work done in 12 months,” said Col. Alfred Pantano Jr., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district commander.
“Mile Point is the key for this port. All roads for the future success of this port go through Mile Point. It’s not a question of if it needs to be done, it has to be done,” said Pantano.
Port CEO Paul Anderson has been critical of the long process for infrastructure improvements to be approved through the Corps, but said he was thankful for the people who have worked to advance the project.
“As we continue to move the Mile Point project forward through our partnership with the Corps and our dedicated members of Congress, I am confident our message and momentum will allow us to also take the next steps to further maximize the positive impact of our port by improving the harbor’s depth, allowing the bigger ships to bring opportunity and jobs to Jacksonville,” said Anderson.
Pantano sympathized with Anderson’s frustration with the process.
“I’m the biggest critic of the civil works process. We need to get things done quicker,” said Pantano.
He talked about the Corps’ efforts to improve that process through its national Civil Works Feasibility Study Program, which aims to have studies completed in 18 months. The pilot projects are being conducted for the Lake Worth Inlet and Central Everglades Planning Project.
The Corps’ recommended plan for Mile Point combines relocation and reconfiguration of the existing training wall, restoration of Great Marsh Island and the creation of a flow improvement channel in Chicopit Bay.
The estimated total cost for the recommended plan is $36.5 million, which is shared by the federal government, at 65 percent, and nonfederal sources, at 35 percent.
Funding for the construction has not been approved, but U.S. Rep Corrine Brown recently passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013 to authorize funding for improved navigation at Mile Point. The act is being reviewed by the U.S. Senate.
If the federal government fails to fund the act, legislators could pursue funding through a Water Resources Development Act, which hasn’t been passed since 2007, but Florida legislators have placed a priority on pursuing it.
“There is the possibility that the state could fund the project and it could be reimbursed if a WRDA bill is passed,” said U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw.
Dennis Kelly, regional vice president and general manager for TraPac, said he was encouraged by the recent movement of projects at the port. TraPac operates a container terminal at Dames Point.
“Every delayed hour costs the companies that call on our ports about $10,000 per hour in added fuel cost,” said Kelly.
The larger ships that are affected by the tidal restriction can only arrive and leave during high tides, and missing the window can create a substantial financial hardship, Kelly said.
“What Paul Anderson and our legislators are doing is major news,” said Kelly.
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