Open Houses Set For Corpus Christi Channel Plan

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has announced it will host two open houses this month focused on the port’s efforts to study the feasibility of deepening the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from the Gulf of Mexico through Harbor Island to La Quinta Junction.

The port is studying deepening that portion of the ship channel, which spans approximately 12.5 nautical miles, to a depth of between -75 and -85 feet. Doing so would allow the passage of fully laden Very Large Crude Carriers “and would better prepare the port for all future commodities in the long-term,” according to an announcement from the port.

A current Corps of Engineers project to deepen the channel to the port’s Inner Harbor to -54 feet is currently underway. This study, to deepen the channel to La Quinta Junction to between -75 and -80 feet, is a separate, non-federally funded project, a port spokesman said.

The meetings will present information about the project to the community, as well as offer a venue for community members to ask questions and provide feedback on the study.

The first open house will be held September 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Port Aransas Community Center, located at 408 N. Alister St., Port Aransas, Texas, 78373.

The second meeting will take place September 27 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Solomon P. Ortiz Center, located at 402 Harbor Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78401.

Both meetings will be a come-and-go format with no formal presentation by the port. The deepening feasibility study team will be present.