(July 24, 2014) – Possible future access to the ICW for deeper keeled vessels – height restrictions will still remain though. As reported by The Triton.

Published 10 years ago, updated 5 years ago

Dredging planned for Ft. Lauderdale 

Plans are in place to dredge the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) north of Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale after this year’s Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. The projected 15-foot controlling depth will ease navigation for larger vessels.

The project covers a section of the ICW that connects all of the marinas in the Ft. Lauderdale show from Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina and Las Olas Marina on the north end to Fort Lauderdale Hilton, The Sails Marina and Pier 66 Marina at the south end near the 17th St. Causeway Bridge.

The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) has secured the required federal, state and local permits, said Tyler Chappell, a FIND commissioner from Broward County. FIND is a special Florida taxing district made up of counties that the ICW runs through and is partially funding the project. It also partially funded and managed the Dania Cut-off Canal dredging project.

“We secured the permits after seven years,” Chappell said. “The contractor is not chosen yet, we’ll take bids in the fall.”

Several marinas are exploring options to dredge their basins and entrances to optimize the deeper channel. The plan starts the dredging at 17th St. Causeway Bridge and run north to just south of the Sunrise Boulevard bridge.

Dredging is expected to take two years at a cost of $20 million and will start after this year’s boat show which runs Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.