Gov. Rick Scott on Monday announced the state would commit $36 million to complete the reconstruction of the Mile Point area of the shipping channel, a project that will ease tidal restrictions on cargo ships calling on Jacksonville ports.
The port has discussed options for adjusting Mile Point with federal legislators since 2006 and Scott addressed why the state chose to move forward with the project.
"This is a federal project. Unfortunately, the federal government has not been funding their projects. We can't wait any longer because we need the jobs in this state, in this county, in this city, that will be created as a result of the project," he said, as he stood dockside at the Jacksonville Port Authority's cruise terminal.
Upon completion, the improvements to Mile Point could create 3,500 port-related jobs, Scott said.
Scott told reporters he was ready to spend the money Monday and he wanted to see the project completed in 18 months.
An additional $2 million will come from the port and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to a news release.
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad also said he wanted the project to begin.
"Now that we have the money, we don't need federal approval to construct the project, (as) JaxPort can handle the construction," said Prasad.
Although an option, port Chief Operating Officer Chris Kauffmann said the port undertaking the construction on its own was not the course of action it was leaning toward.
"We would prefer that the Army Corps of Engineers construct the project," said Kauffmann.
If the port decides to have the Army Corps construct the project, it will need federal approval. Such an approval is normally included in a federal Water Resource Development Act, which Congress has not passed since 2007.
"This is just part of the first step, which is to make sure we have a 24/7 port, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week when we can bring these vessels in. The next step is looking forward to deepening this channel," said State Rep. Lake Ray (R-Jacksonville).
Mayor Alvin Brown talked about the widespread support among the City, City Council and JAX Chamber to support for the port and project.
"As a team we are edging closer to victory. A fix for Mile Point is right in our sight," said Brown.
Mile Point consists of 5,000 feet of shoreline located along the north shore of the St. Johns River and east of the Intracoastal Waterway. Great Marsh Island and the Mile Point Training Wall divide Chicopit Bay.
The confluence of the St. Johns River with the Intracoastal is known as Mile Point, an area that experiences difficult crosscurrents on the ebb tide. The crosscurrents cause navigational restriction on the ebb tide that affect all vessels that have a transit draft greater than 33 feet inbound and 36 feet outbound, inhibiting the free movement of vessel traffic.
The recommended plan 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 port has agreed to maintain the new channel after the Army Corps completes the project, said Joe Miller, senior director of facilities and development at the port.
Ray refers to a "very staggering statistic" on the port situation as it relates to goods — and how Florida can improve its standing.
"Fifty percent of the goods consumed in Florida come from other ports outside of the state of Florida. That's a very strikingly bad number with the ports that we have in Florida," said Ray.
"Why is it that we are bringing our goods in through Savannah? Why is it that Savannah is able to compete and take from our market? We are studying that and finding out how we can move on that," he said.
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