As the cargo ships coming in and out of Port Everglades become bulkier and mightier, so too must the barriers that prevent soil from getting into the channel.
So Port Everglades is embarking on an estimated $269 million project to replace the bulkheads, also known as seawalls, to keep everything running for all marine traffic, including both cargo and cruise ships. Some stretches of the wall even date to 1926, but the new work is expected to last for a good 75 years more.
It will take years before the work is complete. It is anticipated to be funded with state and federal grants, and port revenue.
“What we’re doing with bulkhead replacement is being proactive,” said Glenn Wiltshire, deputy port director.
As ships are getting built bigger, the channel needs to be both deepened and widened. As that happens, there’s more pressure from the dirt towards the water, so the bulkheads need to be stronger and deeper into the bottom of the waterway, he said.
The ships of yesteryear “were many times smaller than they are today,” Wiltshire said.