Work has begun on the $152 million Port Everglades Bulkhead Replacement project in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to Sept. 11 news release from U.K.-based Mott MacDonald, which served as the designer on Phase 1 of the job.
The work covers approximately 2,840 linear feet of newly designed bulkheads at Berths 1, 2 and 3 and incorporates future-proofing features, according to Mott MacDonald. That includes the ability to raise berths at the port by as much as five feet to account for sea level rise.
Teams also designed the bulkheads to survive hurricane conditions, such as hydrostatic drawdowns, or reverse storm surges, which can result in damage or slumping when the usual water pressure on the seaside of a wall suddenly drops. Mott MacDonald also factored in possible wave overtopping in its design.
Port resilience has garnered increased attention due to the impacts of climate change. In 2024, the U.S. DOT released $830 million to make transportation systems more resilient, including at ports.
At Port Everglades, the bulkheads’ various design features will allow the port to accommodate larger vessels with deeper drafts, according to the Mott MacDonald release. One example is Princess Cruises’ new Star Princess, a 4,300 passenger, 178,000-ton Sphere Class vessel, according to Travel Pulse.
The design will also enable construction to take place while the terminal is still active, according to Mott MacDonald. The project “ensures long-term infrastructure vitality for one of the country’s most critical seaports,” said Kris Pagán, Mott MacDonald’s principal project manager, marine structures, in the news release.
The existing bulkheads, constructed in the 1950s, are past their useful lifespan, according to the project’s website. The new walls will be placed outside the existing bulkheads before crews fill the gap between them. The structures are expected to last 75 years or more.
Managing general contractor Moss Construction of Fort Lauderdale awarded the $80 million construction portion of the job to Houston-based specialty firm Orion Group Holdings last year, according to a separate news release.
More broadly, a Moss/Kiewit joint venture was named as general contractor on the larger, $437 million expansion of the port that started in 2017.
Construction costs for the bulkhead replacement will be covered by revenue from port fees collected from cruise, cargo, energy and real estate customers, according to the port. Work on Phase 1 is expected to be complete by December 2026.
