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.