By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a record-setting $200 million contract to rebuild and expand Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, a major investment that will modernize facilities and strengthen border and maritime security operations along the Texas coast.
The design-build contract was awarded to The Haskell Company and is the largest single task order in the history of the Coast Guard’s military construction program. Funding for the project comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Preliminary design and environmental work will begin immediately, with construction expected to be completed by summer 2028.
Located approximately six miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, Coast Guard Station South Padre Island plays a key role in securing the southern border and protecting maritime approaches in the Gulf of Mexico. The expanded station will support Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel operating in the region, enhancing mission readiness and response capabilities.
The project includes the design and construction of more than 120,000 square feet of new and upgraded facilities. Planned improvements include new station buildings, unaccompanied personnel housing and additional berthing space, mission support facilities, rebuilt waterfront infrastructure, a joint operations center, Customs and Border Protection support space, forward operations facilities for deployable specialized forces, and a new harbor operations center, along with utilities and comprehensive site development.
The announcement follows an April 20, 2025, fire that severely damaged the station’s boat house and forced crews to temporarily relocate operations. Despite the damage, station personnel returned to duty the following day, responding to reports of illegal fishing and interdicting a vessel in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone carrying 130 pounds of red snapper and 75 pounds of shark.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the crew’s response and highlighted the broader significance of the investment.
“I am glad to announce a $200 million investment to rebuild shore facilities at Coast Guard Station South Padre Island,” Noem said. “When fire tore through Station South Padre Island’s boat house last April, the crew responded bravely. They didn’t stop. They immediately went back to work the next day, resuming their patrols and interdicting illegal fishermen in a dangerous environment along our southern border.”
Noem added that the funding reflects a larger commitment to strengthening border security and supporting Coast Guard personnel. “Through this investment — and numerous others funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — we are investing in our U.S. Coast Guard heroes and providing them with the facilities they need to secure our borders from criminal organizations and narco-terrorists,” she said. “The men and women of the Coast Guard are relentless in their resolve to defend America. By rebuilding Station South Padre Island, we’re empowering the crew there to continue their courageous work and make America safe again.”
The project is also notable for its accelerated timeline. According to the Coast Guard, the planning phase was reduced from the typical 18 months to just 45 days, while the contracting process was completed in four months instead of the usual 15, making it the fastest shore infrastructure award of its kind.
Community members have already begun discussing how the expanded station could enhance emergency response along the Laguna Madre. Local resident Steve Harrison commented that he hopes the rebuild includes additional firefighting capabilities. “I hope this includes a fire boat, to fight any major fires along the water’s edge of the bay,” Harrison said. “There are dozens of homes and restaurants right on the water. Case in point, had a fireboat responded to the Pier 19 fire, maybe the restaurant could have been saved.”
Coast Guard officials say the rebuilt station will provide modern, resilient facilities designed to support operations along the Gulf Coast for decades to come, reinforcing South Padre Island’s role as a critical hub for maritime security, border enforcement, and emergency response.
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