For over 30 years, efforts to widen and deepen the Corpus Christi Ship Channel have been ongoing. Callan Marine, Ltd. was recently awarded the final contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. By early 2025, it’s anticipated to be the most advanced waterway on the U.S. Gulf Coast. When the Port of Corpus Christi was inaugurated in 1926, the channel was 25 feet deep and 200 feet wide. Once the $681.6 million undertaking concludes, it will boast a depth of 54 feet and a width of 530 feet.
“Our collaboration with the Port of Corpus Christi, one of America’s largest ports, is crucial for sustaining Texas’s and the nation’s economic vitality,” commented Col. Rhett Blackmon, Commander of the USACE Galveston District. “It’s noteworthy that over 90% of the newly dredged material from this contract will be retained within our system through our beneficial use initiative.”
In 1990, Congress initiated a study to assess the viability of broadening and deepening the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The construction for this project kicked off in 2017. The first phase was completed in 2020, followed by the second phase in July this year. The third phase is slated to finish by the end of 2023, with the entire project culminating in early 2025.
Charles W. Zahn, Jr., Chairman of the Port of Corpus Christi Commission, remarked, “The Port of Corpus Christi Commissioners and I extend our gratitude to all supporters of this essential project over the past three decades. This represents a significant advancement, benefiting not just the Port of Corpus Christi but also the broader Coastal Bend area, paving the way for future economic growth and prosperity.”