The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have executed a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) for the deepening and widening of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel.
The PPA, effective September 9, 2017 was signed by John LaRue, PCCA Executive Director, and Colonel Lars N. Zetterstrom, Commander, USACE Galveston District.
The Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP) will widen the waterway to 530 feet, plus plus additional barge shelves, to allow for two way vessel and barge traffic, and deepen the channel to 54 feet MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water) to allow for safe passage of deep draft vessels.
This PPA was recently approved unanimously at a special meeting of the Port of Corpus Christi Commission upon which commissioners also approved the acceleration of $32 million in port funds to the USACE to expedite initial construction phase of the project.
“ Our team has worked towards this momentous project for a very long time. It feels great to have co-signed this important agreement with Colonel Zetterstrom and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ” said Port Corpus Christi Executive Director John LaRue.
“ With our port’s accelerated funding 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 ,” added John LaRue.
The entire project is estimated to cost $327 million with the USACE proportionate cost-share projected to be $225 million and the PCCA proportionate cost-share projected at $102 million.
The PPA allows the PCCA to accelerate its portion of the project cost-share, thereby allowing construction to commence ahead of federal appropriations up to $102 million. These funds are intended for use in the design and construction of the deepening of the CC Ship Channel from the Gulf of Mexico to Harbor Island.