The South Carolina congressional delegation has requested the highest level of funding possible for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project in the Fiscal Year 2018 Army Corps Work Plan.
The letter was signed by South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, and U.S. Representatives Mark Sanford, Joe Wilson, Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Ralph Norman, James Clyburn and Tom Rice.
“ The 52-foot Charleston Harbor Deepening Project is a model of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) SMART Planning process. The project is currently years ahead of schedule and under budget, ” wrote the South Carolina delegation members.
“ Local port officials secured an Advanced Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the Army Corps of Engineers to allow the use of local funds to cover construction costs in the event of delays in federal funding. However, these local funds will only go so far ,” the letter said.
They continued, “Collaborative, proactive projects, like the Charleston Port deepening, are in the best interest of American taxpayers and present a great avenue for growing the nation’s economy by investing in our infrastructure. That is why we unequivocally support the highest possible funding level for deepening the port in this year’s Work Plan. ”
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) president and CEO, Jim Newsome, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army for Civil Works, R.D. James, and other officials gathered on Friday, March 2, to celebrate the beginning of construction on the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project.
Last October, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company was awarded $213 million contract for the removal of approximately 7.95 million cubic yards of dredged material from the Entrance Channel.
The overall project is estimated to cost approximately $529 million. Depending on full-funding, dredge availability, weather and a variety of other factors, work is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.