The US federal government has allocated $93 million for the next phase of the deepening of the Jacksonville shipping channel as part of the construction of the Blount Island Marine container terminal.
In a statement, JAXPORT said the funding, the largest in its history, was a milestone and a “major victory” for the project that seeks to deepen the channel from its current level of 40 to 47 feet.
“This is a significant win for Jacksonville and as I have said before, the continued support from our state and federal partners demonstrates the strength of JAXPORT’s future,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.
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“JAXPORT is Florida’s number one container port and as we continue to expand its capabilities, we know we will see even more jobs and economic growth.”
It marks the first time JAXPORT has ever received funding in the federal government’s budget, which JAXPORT CEO Eric Green said spoke “volumes about the significance of this project” to the region and nation.
“We are extremely grateful to our federal, state and local partners, as well as the dedication and leadership of the JAXPORT Board, for their steadfast support of our growth and the 138,000 jobs Jacksonville’s seaport generates in Florida,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green.
The construction of the new container terminal began in February 2018 and is due to be completed by 2023, two years ahead of originally planed based on current investment.
It will allow JAXPORT to handle the latest fleet of mega-ships and increase strengthen its connections to major markets in Asia.
The construction was originally announced in March 2019, a story Port Technology International reported on.
