Houston Ship Channel Expansion Reaches Major Milestone
After over a decade of planning โคand two years of construction, Port Houston has โขcompleted its portion of the $1.2 billion Projectโ 11, a important expansion of the Houston Ship Channel. โThe project, undertaken in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), focused on dredging and widening a crucial stretch โof the waterway – the Galvestonโ Bay reach from Bolivar Roads to Morgan Point – and is now finished.
Initiated with โฃplanning in 2010, Project โฃ11 addresses theโฃ growing size of modern vessels by expanding the channel’s width from 530 to 700 feet. โคThis proactive measure ensures the channelโข can continue toโ accommodate larger shipsโ andโฃ maintain its โคposition as a vital hub for international trade.
“We commend the astonishing portโ Houston โขteam, our bipartisan federal and local delegations, and ourโค industry and federal partners for their collaboration and capacity to see clearly the importance of this vital gateway to โour nationโ and ensure itsโ ability โto safely sustain and growโค international trade,” stated Port Commission Chairman Ric โฃCampo. “Thisโ collaborative achievement is โขtruly a testamentโฃ toโ theโ hard work of all the individuals involved in the projectโ andโ reminds us of the importance of the โฃHouston Ship Channel to the nation.”
The โcompleted widening is already yielding positive results.Port Houston reports that vessels with โdaylight restrictions now have โขan additional two and a โฃhalf hours each day forโ transit, increasing the potential for two-way traffic and improving scheduling flexibility for both incoming and outgoing ships.
While Port Houston’s segment is complete, the USACE portion of Project 11 is slated for completion in 2029, promising further enhancements to the โchannel’s capacity and efficiency. Officials anticipate the overall project will deliver substantial economic benefitsโค to the region.