Berth 12 dredging work starts at Port Manatee

Construction has started on the first phase of Port Manatee's Berth 12 dredging project. Sarasota-based Spectrum Underground Inc. has started work to develop five-foot wide tunnels through a CSX rail line and sections of South Dock Street and U.S. 41 so that at a later date a hydraulic dredge can be used to clear the path for a container ship to the already constructed 1,584-foot-long berth. Spectrum Underground was awarded the $2.1-million bid earlier this year.

At the same time, Woodruff & Sons Inc. is already performing the dry mining of the site, using a land-based machine to clear the channel.

Phase two, the actual hydraulic dredging is scheduled to start in the first quarter of next year, but the port will be putting out the bid this November.