Port Houston marked a major milestone in June with the announcement that the Houston Ship Channel Expansion, widely known as Project 11, has received full federal funding. The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes $161 million dedicated to Project 11, along with an additional $53.6 million for the channel’s ongoing operations and maintenance. These allocations build upon previously secured funds, bringing the total federal commitment closer to the goal of fully completing the expansion.
Ship Channel Expansion
Port Houston leadership expressed appreciation for the strong bipartisan support that has driven the project forward, crediting federal and local officials for their consistent advocacy. Project 11 has long been considered essential for maintaining the region’s competitiveness as a major international gateway, particularly given Houston’s strategic role in global energy exports and domestic supply chains.
Several segments of the dredging work have already been completed, allowing for early operational improvements. These include reduced daylight transit restrictions and the ability to accommodate larger, more modern vessels. Over the coming months, the port authority plans to complete the dredging between the Bayport and Barbours Cut Ship Channels, while additional work led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will focus on areas near the Turning Basin and Barbours Cut.
The full completion of Project 11 is expected by 2029. Once finalized, the expansion will enhance navigational safety, reduce vessel wait times, and improve the overall flow of goods through the port. The project also emphasizes environmental sustainability, with dredged materials being used to restore marshes and support habitat development.
Port Houston emphasized the strategic importance of the expansion, noting that the Houston Ship Channel supports more than a million jobs in Texas and millions more across the country. The economic impact of the channel is estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars, and Project 11 is viewed as vital to maintaining that momentum well into the future.
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Source: Port Houston
