Port of Brownsville Completes $295.2 Million Channel Deepening Project

The Port of Brownsville has completed the $295.2 million Brazos Island Harbor Improvement Project, increasing the depth of the Brownsville Ship Channel by 10 feet. The project allows larger vessels to carry heavier cargo through the port.

The project deepened the main navigation channel from 42 feet to 52 feet. Contractors also increased the depth of the entrance and jetty channels from 44 feet to 54 feet. They dredged berthing areas, upgraded dredged material placement sites, and installed new navigation aids.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delivered the project with the Brownsville Navigation District, which operates the port. This is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Brownsville Navigation District, and NextDecade.

Federal, local, and private funding supported the $295.2 million project under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. Construction began in 2024 and finished in June 2026. The Port of Brownsville plans to invest an additional $50 million in landside improvements.