DYWIDAG is celebrating the first anniversary of the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge opening to traffic, highlighting its role in delivering the stay cable system supporting one of the largest bridge infrastructure projects completed in North America in recent years.
The bridge, officially known as the US 181 Harbor Bridge, opened in 2025 and replaced the original Harbor Bridge that had served the region since the 1950s. Developed by the Texas Department of Transportation and constructed by FlatironDragados USA, the project was designed to improve traffic safety while expanding maritime access to the Port of Corpus Christi, one of the busiest ports in the United States.
The cable-stayed structure features a main span of 1,661 feet and a total bridge length exceeding 3,295 feet, making it the longest concrete segmental cable-stayed bridge in North America. Engineers designed the bridge with an expected service life of 170 years.
DYWIDAG supplied 152 of its Dyna-Grip DG-E series stay cable systems for the project, along with tie-down cables, temporary stays, installation equipment and a force-monitoring system used to track cable performance. The company also provided technical support and on-site training during construction.
In total, DYWIDAG delivered more than 3,700 tons of epoxy-coated steel strand for the bridge’s cable systems. The materials were manufactured to meet Buy America requirements and designed to provide long-term corrosion protection and fatigue resistance.
“The Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge is an iconic infrastructure project, one that demanded global expertise, precision and collaboration in its construction phase and exceptional durability once opened,” said Roger Frenn, mega projects department lead at DYWIDAG.
The project was completed amid pandemic-related supply chain and construction challenges, requiring coordination among contractors, engineers and suppliers throughout the construction process.
The bridge now serves as a critical transportation link for South Texas while accommodating larger vessels entering and leaving the Port of Corpus Christi, supporting both regional mobility and economic activity.
DYWIDAG, which traces its roots to Germany in 1865, provides structural and geotechnical engineering solutions worldwide, specializing in post-tensioning, geotechnical systems, stay cable technologies and concrete infrastructure.