Dredging: Corpus Christi
Port of Corpus Christi Approves Project Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Deepening & Widening of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel
The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) Commission at a special meeting September 1 approved a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the deepening and widening of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. The Channel Improvement Project will widen the ship channel to 530 feet/161.5 meters plus additional barge shelves to allow two-way vessel and barge traffic in tandem, and deepen it to 54 feet/16.5 meters MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water) to allow safe passage of large, deep draft vessels.
Port Commissioners also approved the accelerated transfer of $32 million in port funds to the USACE to expedite initial construction phases of the project.
Congress initially authorized the project it in 2007 under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007. Congress re-authorized the project in WRDA 2014, and reaffirmed its commitment in the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.
"The signing of this Project Partnership for the Port of Corpus Christi Channel Improvement Project is a monumental opportunity for the Port of Corpus Christi and will help generate jobs and the economy in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The Galveston District is proud to undertake this significant project with our non-federal sponsor," said Colonel Lars N. Zetterstrom, Commander of the Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The project will cost an estimated $327 million, with the USACE’s proportionate cost share projected to be $225 million and the port’s share at $102 million. The PPA allows the port authority to accelerate its portion of the project cost-share, thereby allowing construction to commence ahead of federal appropriations up to $102 million. These funds are intended for use in the design and construction of the deepening of the CC Ship Channel, from the Gulf of Mexico to Harbor Island just east of the Port Aransas Ferry Landing.
"We are grateful for the high priority and cooperative approach given to this important agreement by the Corps of Engineers, and we look forward to future funding and construction of the remaining phases of these needed navigation elements of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel," said Port Corpus Christi Executive Director John LaRue.