Increasing Brownsville Ship Channel depth could boost local economy

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Port of Brownsville and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted a groundbreaking ceremony this morning for phase two of the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project.

The project will deepen the 17-mile-long channel from 42 feet to 52 feet.

Esteban Guerra, the chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District, said the deepening of the port could lead to billions in additional revenue and jobs for the local economy.

“The deeper our channel, the bigger the vessels that can come in – heavier vessels, more products, creating more movement, creating more jobs," Guerra said. "Really bringing an era of prosperity not only to Brownsville but to the entire region. I speak for the entire Rio Grande Valley, we’re all going to be affected by this.”

The project is split into two phases. Phase one is fully funded by NextDecade, the parent company to Rio Grande LNG.

NextDecade CEO and Chairman Matt Schatzman said they recognized the benefits to LNG and the local economy that deepening the channel would bring.

Phase one deepens the channel from the western edge of the Rio Grande LNG site to the channel's entrance near South Padre Island.

“The BIH project is expected to increase international trade in the region which should help create thousands more permanent jobs," Schatzman said. "We expect to start shipping the first cargos of LNG to the global market in 2027.”

The Port of Brownsville and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are funding and managing phase two of the project. Guerra said Congressman Vicente Gonzales helped provide federal funding for the project, which received $68 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Appropriations Law. The Port of Brownsville is contributing $71.5 million.

Dredging for phase one is currently underway and officials expect the project to be completed by 2026.