Port Houston Completes Project 11 Segments Widening Channel to 700 Feet
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Port Houston celebrated on October 8, together with federal, state and local officials and industry partners, the completion of the segments under its responsibility for Project 11, the latest expansion of the Houston Ship Channel. The work widened the Galveston Bay reach by 170 feet, bringing it from 530 to 700 feet, and created new natural habitats using the dredged material.
Accelerated financing
Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins noted that the project, which began as an idea, has allowed vessels to now transit a wider, safer channel thanks to collaboration between the port, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, industry and lawmakers. Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo pointed out that Port Houston and its industry partners agreed to contribute their own funds to accelerate the work, which cut years off the schedule, while the remainder was funded through federal sources; the portion under the port's responsibility was completed on time and within budget, faster than any comparable project in the United States.
Environmental benefits
Using material generated by the dredging, Project 11 created 10 acres of bird islands, 324 acres of oyster reefs and 800 acres of marsh habitat, adding hundreds of acres of new ecosystems along the waterway.
Fewer restrictions for vessels
The widened channel is already delivering operational benefits: in 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Houston pilots recognized the 700-foot-wide reach between Bolivar Roads and Morgans Point, effectively eliminating daylight navigation restrictions for larger vessels. This allows ships to move more efficiently and reduces the need to wait at anchor or at berth before departing.
Federal funding and next steps
Representative Lizzie Fletcher noted that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allowed Port Houston to receive more than $140 million in federal funding, making it the only port in Texas to obtain such financing, while Representative Wesley Hunt mentioned having secured more than $160 million to complete Project 11. This marks the eleventh major expansion of the Houston Ship Channel, and the remaining work, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will continue in order to complete the program and meet future demand for energy exports, petrochemicals and international cargo.
