Port of Corpus Christi signs agreement to widen, deepen ship channel

The Texas Gulf Coast port and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have executed a project partnership agreement that aims to widen the Corpus Chirsti Ship Channel to 530 feet.    A deepening and widening of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel is officially coming to the Port of Corpus Christi.
   The port announced Sept. 11 that it and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have signed a project partnership agreement known as the CC Ship Channel Improvement Project that aims to widen the CC Ship Channel to 530 feet, plus additional barge shelves, which would allow for two way vessel and barge traffic.
   The project would also deepen the CC Ship Channel to 54 feet MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water) to allow for safe passage of deep draft vessels.
   The agreement was approved unanimously at a special meeting of the Port of Corpus Christi Commission, at which the issuance of $32 million in port funds to the Army Corps of Engineers was also approved to expedite the project’s initial construction phase.
   “Our team has worked towards this momentous project for a very long time. It feels great to have co-signed this important agreement,” Port Corpus Christi Executive Director John LaRue said. “We can get started on the deepening and widening of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel because of this important agreement, and look forward to future funding and construction of the remaining phases for this nationally critical infrastructure project.”
   The entire project is estimated to cost $327 million with the Army Corps of Engineers proportionate cost-share projected to be $225 million and the port authority’s proportionate cost-share projected at $102 million.
   The port authority said the allows the partnership agreement to accelerate its portion of the project cost-share, thereby allowing construction to commence ahead of federal appropriations up to $102 million, with the funds intended for use in the design and construction of the deepening of the CC Ship Channel from the Gulf of Mexico to Harbor Island.
   “The Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project is of critical importance for the Texas energy sector and for the nation’s move toward energy independence,” Port Corpus Christi Commission Chair Charles W. Zahn said in a statement. “The Port of Corpus Christi has designated this project its number one priority. With the signing of this agreement its merit is proven as a national infrastructure priority as well.”