The whole concept of the Panama Canal widening makes Port of Miami the target area.
Thoughtful consideration has been directed towards the $77 million that Gov. Rick Scott provided for the dredging of the harbor.
However, this is only one of three leading projects that have been in the works for more than a decade.
These are a $50 million project to repair the rail lines from the port to the Florida East Coast Railway and digging the $1 billion Port of Miami tunnel.
“There are naysayers who do not understand the dynamics associated with the expansion of the Panama Canal and the coming shift in trade patterns once the expanded canal opens in 2014, ” said Port of Miami Director of Public Affairs Paula Musto . “ The ‘doubting Toms’ do not share our vision, but I firmly believe that the state can move into first place nationwide when it comes to international trade and commerce.”
The port upgrading includes the dredging, enhancement of the rail and trucking connections. The cargo tonnage is planned to increase from 7.39 million to 11.7 million by 2014.
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Dredging Today Staff, December 6, 2011;