JAXPORT tour shows off improvements underway

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Millions of dollars in growth improvements being made by the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) in Florida drew Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault there this week.

The port is responsible for more than 138,500 jobs and approximately $31.1 billion in annual economic output, according to a recent economic impact study conducted by Martin Associates. It has grown significantly since the last such study was conducted in 2013, and new projects promise to improve it still further.

“Today I saw firsthand state dollars hard at work at JAXPORT, one of Northeast Florida’s leading job creators,” Thibault said. “FDOT is proud to be a strong supporter of these projects—which are vital to JAXPORT’s ability to continue to grow and create jobs and economic opportunity for the people of our state.”

These projects include $109 million worth of berth enhancements at the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal, as well as harbor deepening at Mile Point. When finished, the berth upgrades will allow accommodations for two post-Panamax vessels and six electric 100-gauge container cranes at the same time. The harbor deepening allows larger ships to easier traverse the Jacksonville shipping channel by lowering the channel to a depth of 47 feet.