Fred Hartman Bridge

The Fred Hartman Bridge is a cable-stayed crossing over the Houston Ship Channel that links Baytown and La Porte along State Highway 146. Two slender towers support eight traffic lanes suspended above the waterway.

Construction began in 1991 and the crossing opened in 1995 to replace the aging Baytown Tunnel. The higher clearance allowed larger vessels to navigate the channel below.

The structure carries the name of Fred Hartman, a Baytown newspaper editor whose voice shaped local conversations for more than two decades. His legacy connects the crossing to the community it serves each day.

The crossing is part of a busy highway with no pedestrian access or designated parking areas. Drivers experience open views over the channel and industrial facilities along the shore while crossing.

The cables are made from twisted steel wire wrapped in a protective polymer layer to resist moisture and salt exposure. This design makes the crossing the longest cable-stayed span in Texas.

Location: Harris County

GPS coordinates: 29.70347,-95.01742

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27