The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, yesterday announced that they have received $138 million in construction funding for the Charleston Harbor Post 45 Deepening Project in the President’s Budget.
“ This allows us to stay on schedule with the deepening. We also received operations and maintenance funds of $19.4 million for Charleston Harbor, $3.9 million for the Cooper River Rediversion Project, and $285,000 for the AIWW ,” said USACE.
The deepening and widening of the Charleston Harbor to a 52-foot deep federal channel will allow for growth in the shipping industry with the influx of Post-Panamax ships calling on port in the Lowcountry.
According to USACE, the total project will cost approximately $529 million with an estimated cost-share for the construction portion of the project to be $330 million from the federal government and $199 million for the South Carolina Ports Authority.
Depending on funding, dredge availability, weather and a variety of other factors, the construction of the entire project will take 3-6 years.