Photo Courtesy of Wamploid Cthulhuloid, licensed under CC BY 2.0
The $1.3‑billion Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas opened in 2025 with 909,000 sq ft of structure, six travel lanes and post‑Panamax clearance to support long‑term maritime and freight growth.
ENR has named the Texas Dept. of Transportation its 2026 Texas & Louisiana Owner of the Year. This recognition honors the agency’s extensive statewide capital program, which is transforming mobility across Texas’ growing urban centers, regional corridors and rural communities.
TxDOT’s record $104.2‑billion Unified Transportation Program underscores the state’s long‑term commitment to expanding and modernizing infrastructure. Among its flagship efforts is the $1.3‑billion Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, the longest concrete segmental cable‑stayed bridge in North America. Opened in 2025, the project delivers 909,000 sq ft of total structure area, six lanes of capacity and post‑Panamax vertical clearance that will support decades of maritime and freight growth.
Across metro regions, TxDOT is advancing a series of large‑scale projects aligned with population growth, congestion relief and statewide mobility priorities. These include the $671‑million SH 6 Central BCS Expansion in Bryan/College Station, the My35 Waco South modernization, and the Interstate‑10 White Oak Bayou Elevation project in Houston, which raises a historically flood‑prone corridor above the 100‑year floodplain and adds major drainage and detention capacity.
A centerpiece of the agency’s urban work is Segment 3 of the North Houston Highway Improvement Project, a multibillion‑dollar reconstruction that will reroute Interstate 45, add express lanes and create opportunities for deck‑park development over depressed freeway sections. With multiple elements underway, the project will integrate mobility, flood resilience and community‑focused design in one of Texas’ busiest regions.
Further demonstrating the breadth of TxDOT’s program, the agency is moving forward with rural safety upgrades such as the SH 21/US 190 West Widening, converting 20 miles of two‑lane highway into a divided four‑lane corridor. These improvements support TxDOT’s long‑range Road to Zero initiative to reduce fatalities statewide while accommodating continued economic and population growth.
You can read more about TxDOT in the April issue of ENR Texas & Southeast.
Vince Kong is ENR’s Southeast Regional Editor, based in San Antonio, Texas. A veteran journalist, he brings deep experience in covering regional growth, infrastructure policy, and community impact — shaped by previous reporting roles in Florida and New Mexico. Before joining ENR, Vince led digital content initiatives for NPR affiliates in Texas and Florida, and served as an editor for Treasure Coast Newspapers and a reporter for the Albuquerque Journal.