2026 a Year of Long-Range Planning, Continued Growth
2026 a Year of Long-Range Planning, Continued Growth
2026 a Year of Long-Range Planning, Continued Growth
January 8, 2026
After executing major cruise, cargo and transportation infrastructure projects in 2025, this year the Port of Galveston will complete several current projects and plan for a new era of growth.
Completing major projects
This year we’ll begin construction on the final phase of the 2-mile-long internal roadway between approximately 10th and 41st streets to accommodate more cruise and cargo traffic. The project is funded with port operating revenues and $9.3 million in grants from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
We’ll also celebrate completion of several phases of our $106 million West Port Cargo Complex expansion. The scope includes enclosing two outdated slips, filling one slip, and building a 1,434-foot-long berth. A future phase will include filling the second slip. Work is funded with port operating revenues and a $36 million TxDOT grant.
In all, we’ll add more than 30 acres to our cargo complex, which handles more than 3 million tons of general and breakbulk cargos, including roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) and giant wind turbine pieces a year.
Driven by cargo tenant demand, the expansion paves the way for major cargo growth to generate hundreds of new jobs and tremendous economic growth for the region.
Planning for growth
Both the roadway and cargo complex were core elements in the port’s 20-Year Strategic Master Plan, designed by an expert consulting firm and adopted by the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees in 2019.
After completing these and other projects ahead of schedule, the port began updating the master plan last year. Consultants are finalizing the plan after gathering market research and feedback from port stakeholders and the community.
The plan forecasts major cruise and cargo growth. To prepare for and manage that growth, the port is investing significant resources in traffic and mobility studies and projects.
Port staff has secured more than $8 million in state and federal grants to help alleviate traffic impacts, improve pedestrian safety and examine the feasibility of a flyover to directly connect Interstate 45 to the port’s internal roadway.
We’re also planning a joint mobility and traffic study with the city of Galveston to look at port traffic impacts on and adjacent to port property. This is just one example of how the port and city are working together to benefit the community.
Cruise going strong
Our cruise sector continues to set growth records year over year. This year we’re forecasting 2 million passengers, or 4 million passenger embarkations and debarkations, on almost 450 sailings.
We host six major cruise lines and are in talks with other lines interested in expanding to Galveston. We’re the fourth-busiest U.S. cruise port, and growing, because of the quality and diversity of our cruise products and our convenient drive-to location.
And there’s more
We also expect progress this year on a shore power project, the Davie shipbuilding expansion, and the harbor dredging and extension.
All in all, it’s going to be another great year at the Port of Galveston.
By Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO
Pictured above, the port is improving its internal roadway to safely and efficiently move more pedestrian and vehicular traffic.