Port Houston has completed its portions of Project 11, widening a stretch of the Houston Ship Channel through Galveston Bay by 170 feet. The channel there now measures 700 feet across, up from 530 feet.
Port Houston marked the completion on October 8 with elected officials and industry partners. Dredging began in 2022, and the project used dredged material to create bird islands, oyster reefs and marsh habitat.
The expanded section between Bolivar Roads and Morgans Point received recognition in 2025 from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Houston Pilots, effectively lifting daylight restrictions for larger vessels crossing Galveston Bay. The wider passage is expected to improve navigation and reduce waits for larger ships before departure.
Project 11 is the ship channel’s 11th major expansion. The Army Corps of Engineers will continue work on other waterway improvements.
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