The $35 million project to widen the harbor to 400-feet wide and deepen the entrance by two feet to 46 feet cleared the final two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting hurdles last week.

“The Canaveral Port Authority’s decision to utilize alternative federal processes that allow seaports to self-fund required studies and permits allowed us to arrive at this critical juncture 10 years earlier than taking the traditional route,” said Port Canaveral CEO John E. Walsh. “However, this is a bittersweet moment because the Army Corps of Engineers has deferred approval to fund maintenance dredging of the harbor via a Section 204f process after we complete the deepening and widening project. Once the still-pending WRDA bill is passed, the Army Corps will be required to fund dredging costs, but there is no guarantee the WRDA will pass or keep all provisions in place.”

Walsh said the deferred approval could cost the port authority “an unbudgeted $1.3 million per year for future maintenance of the harbor.”

The uplands work at the Canaveral Harbor entrance will begin next month followed by cutting the land and building a retaining wall during the next six months and conclude with dredging at the widening for the next three months.