Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale has initiated a $152 million bulkhead replacement project designed to revamp the aging seawalls and improve sturdiness against rising sea levels and storm surges. The project is at the heart of the port’s overall modernization plan, which aims to retain its position as one of South Florida’s most essential cargo and cruise hubs.

The undertaking will involve the substitution of damaged bulkheads dating back to the 1950s that were originally made of wood with steel-reinforced ones that can withstand stronger storms and a range of scenarios for climate change. Therefore, the work will be to build new seawalls, to reinforce the foundations, and to install the drainage systems with better quality materials that are expected to last longer than the existing infrastructure.

Port Everglades is one of the busiest American deepwater ports, as it is the departure point for well over 25 million tons of cargo annually, and it is a major gateway for fuel distribution throughout Florida. Cruise traffic is also one of the major sources of the local economy, as millions of passengers use the port every year. Officials emphasize that, in their absence, commercial shipping and tourism, as the two main pillars of the region, could get substantially disturbed by the lack of resilient infrastructure.

Moreover, the undertaking will also create hundreds of local construction jobs throughout the period. Hence, it will be a huge opportunity for both the contractors and subcontractors from the whole area of South Florida. 

The county officials pointed out that the monitoring of workforce participation goals will be conducted closely to ensure that small and underprivileged businesses have access to contracting opportunities. Thus, the work will be aligned with equity objectives and community development in the area.

Officials say that these changes are necessary not only for the sake of standing strong and tackling problems head-on but also for safeguarding the energy sector of the port that supports international trade and tourism. The port will still be operating during the construction, which is being done in different phases, but the officials say that due to the enormity and the technical difficulties involved, this will be a multi-year project.

This is a prime example of the broader trend happening across Florida to improve infrastructure to prepare for the impact of sea-level rise and the increasing number of hurricanes. 

As noted by Contractor News, the state is moving forward with other large-scale projects such as the $2.5 billion reconstruction of I-4 West to Orlando and the $328 million Sanibel Island Causeway Project, which finished earlier this year, among others.

The Everglades bulkhead project is a significant step in South Florida's efforts to combat the challenges posed by current and future climate change along its coastal infrastructure.