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$350 million dredging project begins in Boston Harbor

BOSTON — If you noticed cranes on barges scooping out the bottom of the Boston Harbor Friday you will soon become accustomed to it.

A 3-year project has officially kicked off to deepen the harbor to accommodate larger ships.

For centuries, the harbor has been the hub of trade for the New England area, but now it’s the 21st century and ships carrying heating oil, cars, jet fuel and salt are bigger than they used to be -- a lot bigger.

Many are 300 yards long and equipped to carry up to 12,000 shipping containers in a load. Right now, ships that enter the harbor can only hold about 8,000.

“The return on this investment will be dramatic and significant for the people of south Boston, for the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for the New England region overall,” Gov. Charlie Baker said.

The dredging project will cost $350 million; $130 million of which will come from the state. Officials say to keep trade globally competitive, it’s a necessary move.

Barges with cranes will spend the next three years digging up more than five miles of sea floor, from the Chelsea  Creek to Conley Terminal, deepening it by seven feet.

The outer harbor will also get 11 feet deeper to allow for trade in weather, then the project will move on to infrastructure investments like new cranes at Conley Terminal, directly improving businesses like L.L. Bean, Jordan’s Furniture, and Christmas Tree Shops.

“The Army Corps has told us that for every dollar spent on construction there will be nearly $9 returned to the local economy in increased activity, and that means about a $2.7 billion economic boost from this project,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.

State officials say the improvements will protect 7,000 local jobs, keep 1,600 New England businesses competitive. Overall, it will also cost consumers less than trucking those goods from New York.

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