The first half of the bypass channel that will reroute the Trinity River as part of a $1.16 billion project is moving forward after federal funding disputes caused delays last year.
Construction on the northern part of the bypass will begin late this year, Kate Beck, Tarrant Regional Water District program manager, said during a Feb. 12 meeting.
Despite project delays, the overall flood control initiative will finish by its original completion date of 2032, according to documents from the Trinity River Vision Authority’s board meeting. The Trinity River Vision Authority is a product of the water district and tasked with educating the public about the river’s flood control projects.
The bypass channel will be broken up into northern and southern portions, which will create the appearance of a natural island. Panther Island will make up hundreds of acres between downtown and the predominantly Hispanic Northside neighborhood.
Last year, the north bypass was estimated to break ground this spring, but the project saw delays because of federal construction contract disputes.
The bypass will be broken into northern and southern channels, rerouting the West Fork of the Trinity River away from downtown Fort Worth and the Northside neighborhood. (Courtesy | Tarrant Regional Water District)
Military construction projects underwent reviews in mid-2025 by the U.S. Department of Defense to determine which of those may or may not require the use of project labor agreements. Through those agreements, the federal government exclusively awards public construction projects to unionized firms.
The reviews came in response to a unionized construction organization that sued after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed such agreements from construction contracts valued at $35 million or more.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is designing and constructing Fort Worth’s 1.5-mile bypass.
The central city flood-control project finally was issued an exception from Hegseth’s mandate, Beck said, allowing the Corps of Engineers to move forward with construction contracts.
The issuance of a contract for the construction of the south channel is contingent on the amount of funds remaining from the north channel, Beck added. However, the water district plans to finalize a contract for the second half of the channel by next year.
Bob Riley, Jay Chapa, G.K. Maenius, Dan Buhman, Carlos Flores and Paxton Motheral listen to Matt Oliver during a July 31, 2025, Trinity River Vision Authority board meeting. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
Fort Worth to fill delays
The water district requires $543 million in federal dollars to fully fund remaining flood control projects, Beck said.
Pending projects include the installation of three sluice gates in the river — moveable gates that will allow water to flow under — relocation of utilities, dams and flood storage.
Fort Worth officials are responsible for the central city’s utility projects. They must be completed in order for the Corps of Engineers to move forward with construction.
The relocation of storm drains in the north bypass’ direction will now be completed by July, pushed back from its original April date, said Clair Davis, who oversees the city’s work on the project. The relocation of water, sewer and electric utilities for the south bypass will be finalized through the end of the year, he added.
Jay Chapa, board member and Fort Worth city manager, and board chair G.K. Maenius expressed concerns about the timeline for completing storm drains.
Now those relocations would finish a month before the Corps of Engineers is expected to award a construction contract in August.
Davis said city officials are focusing on “critical” portions of relocating utilities to ensure the project is finalized before the Corps of Engineers steps in.
Water district general manager Dan Buhman urged board members to request funding prioritization from the Corps of Engineers.
The water district has received funds through the Corps of Engineers’ annual civil works budget. The budget allows the agency to allocate money to various initiatives, such as navigation, flood control, and rehabilitating dams.
With a letter of support from U.S. Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, the water district is seeking $20 million from the Corps of Engineers’ 2026 budget, Buhman said.
Water district officials say they are hopeful the money, along with remaining funds from the north bypass, would fully cover the costs of the southern portion of the channel.
“We’re trying to get ourselves in a position where we have the money to build the entire bypass channel,” Buhman said.
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
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