Florida’s Port Everglades Begins $152M Bulkhead Upgrade to Combat Rising Seas

Construction is officially underway at Port Everglades on a $152 million bulkhead replacement project in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The initiative will replace aging seawalls from the 1950s with modern reinforced bulkheads. These new structures are designed to protect this critical seaport against rising sea levels and intense storms. The project is a key part of Broward County’s infrastructure investment plan. It is aimed at future-proofing one of the nation’s busiest ports. At the same time, it will maintain uninterrupted operations.

Replacing Decades-Old Seawalls

Port Everglades’ existing bulkheads, first built in the mid-20th century, have long exceeded their intended lifespan. To ensure the port’s longevity, contractors have begun installing new bulkhead walls along Berths 1, 2 and 3. These consist of approximately 2,840 linear feet of steel-reinforced concrete. Crews are building the new walls just seaward of the old ones. Once the new bulkheads are in place, workers will fill the gap between the old and new structures. They will then remove the obsolete 1950s-era seawalls. Engineers expect the upgraded bulkheads to last at least 75 years. This improvement will extend the port’s resilience well into the next century.

Crucially, this construction is proceeding without requiring any halt to the port’s daily activities. Work crews are carefully coordinating their efforts so that cargo and cruise operations can continue uninterrupted. This approach allows Port Everglades to maintain its role as a major hub even as vital improvements are implemented. Kris Pagán is principal project manager for marine structures at Mott MacDonald, the project’s lead design firm. He emphasized the significance of the effort. “We are proud to be an integral part of Broward County’s strategic investment in infrastructure that is resilient, durable, and capable of meeting present and future port operational demands,” Pagán said.

Future-Proofing for Climate Resilience

A driving motivation behind the bulkhead replacement is the need to adapt to climate change. The new berths are engineered with future sea-level rise in mind. They can be elevated by up to five feet, if necessary, to counteract rising tides. This built-in flexibility is a forward-looking feature. It will help shield Port Everglades from encroaching ocean levels over coming decades.

The bulkheads are also designed to withstand extreme weather conditions that South Florida faces during hurricane season. They account for the phenomenon of reverse storm surges. In this scenario, powerful storms rapidly draw water away and then push it back. This dynamic can cause soil instability and put stress on seawalls. The designers also factored in hydrostatic drawdown (a sudden drop in water pressure on the seaward side of a wall). They accounted for potential wave overtopping as well. These considerations ensure the new walls will hold firm even under severe storm surges. The upgraded berths can accommodate newer, larger ships with deeper drafts, such as 4,300-passenger cruise vessels. This upgrade aligns the port’s facilities with current maritime trends.

Port Everglades’ leadership has underscored how essential such resiliency measures are. Port Everglades’ Chief Executive Jonathan Daniels remarked on the need to fortify infrastructure when a major state resilience grant was awarded to the port. “This significant grant will strengthen Port Everglades’ ability to adapt its critical assets, such as bulkheads, to address flooding and offset the impacts of conditions that could be caused by climate change,” Daniels said. By upgrading its seawalls now, the port is proactively ensuring it can remain operational and secure in the face of future environmental challenges.

Economic Engine and Strategic Importance

The stakes for fortifying Port Everglades are high, given its significance to the economy and supply chains. Located in Broward County, Port Everglades is consistently ranked among the top three busiest cruise ports in the world. It is also a leading U.S. gateway for international cargo. Each year, the port moves millions of tons of petroleum, containerized goods and other freight. It also welcomes millions of cruise passengers. More than 200,000 Florida jobs are tied to Port Everglades’ activity. The port drives over $30 billion in economic value annually. Modernizing the port’s marine infrastructure is not just an engineering upgrade. It is an investment in protecting a crucial economic engine for the region.

Local and state officials have recognized Port Everglades’ pivotal role and the urgency of climate adaptation. The bulkhead project is a cornerstone of a broader capital improvement program focused on enhancing port capacity and resilience. In recent years, significant grants and funding initiatives have been directed toward infrastructure upgrades at Florida ports. These efforts aim to ensure facilities remain functional despite sea-level rise and extreme weather. Port Everglades’ bulkhead replacement exemplifies how these investments are put into action to safeguard commerce and coastal communities.

Project Partners and Timeline

Delivering a complex marine construction project of this scale requires collaboration among experienced industry players. Broward County selected Moss Construction, a Fort Lauderdale-based contractor, as managing general contractor for the bulkhead program. Moss, in turn, awarded an $80 million subcontract to Orion Group Holdings. The Houston-based marine construction specialist will perform the bulk of the waterside work. Engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald led the design of Phase 1. The firm leveraged its extensive expertise in port and coastal infrastructure.

The bulkhead replacement is being executed in phases. It is part of a larger $437 million port expansion effort that began in 2017. Phase 1 construction, now underway, is slated for completion by December 2026. Throughout this period, port officials expect minimal disruption to shipping schedules or cruise operations. Careful planning and construction staging allow work to proceed even at active terminals. The project’s $152 million cost is financed through port-generated revenue streams, such as fees from cruise and cargo customers. It does not rely on any local taxpayer funding. This self-funded approach underlines the port’s commitment to reinvesting in its own facilities to support long-term growth.