The Charleston Harbor Deepening Project has moved closer to securing the authorization necessary to begin construction as the US House of Representatives passed H.5303 the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 on September 28 this year.
The Charleston Harbor Deepening Project was formally recommended for Congressional authorization in January with the issuance of the Record of Decision by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
The project has moved through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SMART Planning process and received support by all levels of government. In 2012, the S.C. General Assembly set aside USD 300 million for the state share of the project.
According to Jim Newsome, SCPA President and CEO , with the passage of the bill, the construction can start next year. Newsome added that Charleston Harbor is “well positioned to be the deepest harbor on the East Coast by the end of the decade.”
Upon completion, the project will deepen the Charleston Harbor to 54 feet at the entrance channel and 52 feet in the harbor.