Ship Channel Bridge nears milestone as work continues on tollway's southbound span

To some drivers, the notion that Harris County was working on a new Sam Houston Tollway bridge across the ship channel might have once seemed like a tall tale. Now it is a tall pillar of concrete and steel – where workers trudge up and down 15 flights of stairs and counting. It will eventually tower over the ship channel as the priciest piece of road ever for the Harris County Toll Road Authority. Almost two years from completion, the first phase of the Houston Ship Channel span is becoming more noticeable to drivers on the existing bridge. Even more work will become obvious over the summer, but not without another thing tollway drivers are used to seeing: lane closures. Still, any sight of a new span is closely watched by commuters and elected officials, including Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “It really is top of mind for some folks,” Garcia said. “Folks are really anxious for a better bridge.”