Cruise passengers sailing out of Jacksonville will park at a new lot in fall 2018 as part of realignment at JaxPort’s terminals aiming to expand space for shipping automobiles through there.
The JaxPort board on Wednesday, December 13, approved a US$6.5-million project that would pave 18.2 acres close to the cruise terminal, located off Heckscher Drive west of Dames Point bridge. The building by Pars Construction Services starts early 2018 and is due to be finished around November.
The new lot will allow the port to convert its current cruise parking area at Dames Point Terminal in use for processing automobiles shipped through port of Jacksonville.
During the fiscal year which ended September 30, JaxPort handled 693,000 vehicles - a record-setting total which strained the capacity at Blount Island Terminal, situated east of Dames Point bridge.
Carnival Cruise Lines, leasing the port authority-owned cruise terminal, sails out of Jacksonville on 4-day and 5-day voyages onboard Carnival Elation.
Carnival plans to move Elation to Port Canaveral May 2019 and bring Carnival Ecstasy to Jacksonville for continuation of the voyages.
The US$6.5-million cost for the parking lot includes new pavement, drainage, high-mast lighting, payment booths, slope protection along Wynn’s Creek, electrical supply for gate arms and security cameras.