The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will begin lowering the center span of the old Harbor Bridge in a multi-day operation starting Saturday, October 25, marking the beginning of the final phase in decommissioning one of Corpus Christi’s most recognizable landmarks.
The center span will be removed in a carefully coordinated process that concludes Tuesday, October 28, when the structure will be transported by barge to a dock between Portland and Ingleside. The operation represents the final major milestone in the $1.3 billion U.S. 181 Harbor Bridge Replacement Project, which brought a new, taller bridge into service earlier this year.
“For more than 60 years, the 1959 Harbor Bridge has served as an iconic landmark, connecting the people and places surrounding Corpus Christi,” said Joseph Briones, TxDOT Corpus Christi District Deputy Engineer and Harbor Bridge Project Manager.
“While its removal marks the end of an era, we honor the history and memories it represents as we look forward to the new Harbor Bridge serving the next generation of Texans.”
Step-by-Step Operation
The operation, coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Port of Corpus Christi, is designed to remove the bridge’s center span in one piece using precision equipment and a barge system.
Saturday: The Prometheus barge — 300 feet long and 100 feet wide — will arrive in the ship channel to prepare for the lift.
Monday morning: Strand jacks and stabilization systems will engage, the bridge joints will be cut, and the center span will be slowly lowered onto the barge.
Tuesday: The secured span will be transported along the La Quinta Channel to its designated dock site.
The schedule is weather permitting, and certain time sequences may overlap depending on conditions.
Temporary Path Closure
For public safety, the shared-use path on the new Harbor Bridge will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, October 27, during the lowering operation.
A Bridge That Defined an Era
Completed in 1959, the original Harbor Bridge was the largest project ever undertaken by the Texas Highway Department. It broke new ground in its use of pre-stressed concrete and neoprene pads, serving as both a vital transportation link and a symbol of progress for Corpus Christi.
The bridge supported local commerce and port access for more than six decades but eventually reached the end of its design lifespan and no longer met modern engineering standards.
Its decommissioning makes way for the new U.S. 181 Harbor Bridge, which opened in June 2025 and is designed to serve Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend region for generations to come.
Texas Reporter 