Expansion of Houston Ship Channel

under planning

Port Houston and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are engaged in expanding the 58-mile-long Houston Ship Channel. Known as Project 11, it will widen the channel by 170 ft along its Galveston Bay reach, from 530 ft to 700 ft. It will also deepen some upstream segments to 46.5 ft, make other safety and efficiency improvements, and craft new environmental features. Some of the dredged material will be used to construct four bird islands in Galveston Bay, creating up to 20 acres of new foraging and nesting habitat. Project 11 is broken into eight segments. The dredging contract for one segment was awarded in 2021. In January 2022 the Corps allocated $142.5 million for Segment 3. Construction of the entire project is expected to be completed by 2025.