Jacksonville port launches Mile Point Harbor project

Florida Gov. Rick Scott joined Jacksonville Port Authority and other government officials to kick off the start of the port's Mile Point Harbor improvement project.

The project will remove an existing navigational restriction in the St. Johns River to make it easier for larger cargo ships to travel the channel.

The state has advanced $43.5 million for the project’s design and construction. Scott noted that in February, Volkswagen Group of America chose the Jacksonville port as the location for its import facility and distribution center, and in April, Nestle USA announced it was shifting a majority of its U.S.-to-Puerto Rico shipments from the Port of New York and New Jersey to Jacksonville port, known as Jaxport.

"We look forward to welcoming more shippers and businesses to Jaxport because of this important investment," Scott said in a press release.