October 28, 2026
Port Houston joined federal, state, and local elected officials and industry partners earlier this month to celebrate the completion of Port Houston-led segments of Project 11, the latest expansion of the Houston Ship Channel and one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the waterway's history.
The completed work widened the Houston Ship Channel by 170 feet along its Galveston Bay reach, from 530 feet to 700 feet, and created new bird islands, oyster reefs, and marsh habitat using dredged material. The improvements increase safety and efficiency along the nation's busiest waterway and strengthen the Houston Ship Channel's ability to support growing trade and economic activity.
The milestone reflects years of collaboration among Port Houston, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, industry partners, and elected leaders to accelerate improvements to the waterway.
To expedite this critical project, Port Houston and industry partners recognized the need to do things differently and agreed to help pay for Project 11, which cut years off the delivery timeline and provides benefits to all users of the channel. The remainder is being funded through several federal sources.
Source: Port of Houston