Harbor Bridge

The new Harbor Bridge reshaped a key transportation and maritime connection in Corpus Christi, Texas. Beyond constructing the iconic bridge, the project involved building 21 new roadway bridges, 6.5 miles of new highway main lanes, a new South Interchange connecting U.S. 181, IH 37, and SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway), and demolishing the original 1959 Harbor Bridge.

The new bridge rises 538 feet and provides 205 feet of clearance above the water, making it the highest point in South Texas. Its cable-stayed design features a 1,661-foot main span, the longest of its kind in the United States. The additional clearance addresses a limitation of the previous bridge, built in the 1950s, which could not accommodate taller ocean-bound ships traveling between Corpus Christi Bay and the Port of Corpus Christi Inner Harbor.  

Improvements to the U.S. 181 corridor include six travel lanes and four 10-foot-wide shoulders to support safer, more efficient travel. The new bridge also provides a dedicated shared-use path (SUP) for pedestrians and bicyclists. Additional project features include aesthetic LED bridge lighting, SUP parking lots, and drought-tolerant groundcover.