Workers are slated early next year to add more slips to the Galveston Island pier for the Bolivar ferry, which will give ferry operators more room to keep more of the ferries ship-shape.

The ferries, operated by the Texas Department of Transportation, run continuously, connecting Texas 87 from Galveston to Bolivar. Last week, officials opened bids on a project to rebuild the ferry’s bulkhead and maintenance dock.

Texas Gulf Construction Company was the apparent low bidder on the project at $21.3 million. That was $3.7 million less than officials estimated the work would cost.

The dock has four slips for ships. A fifth will be added, along with various repairs related to Hurricane Ike in 2008 and increasing the fueling station’s capacity from 40,000 gallons to 50,000 gallons.

“The additional slips will logistically provide more flexibility during times when multiple vessels need repairs or other maintenance,” said Danny Perez, spokesman for TxDOT in Houston.

About 2,500 passengers are ferried daily, using up to six boats. Typically, four ferries are used, with more in service during peak periods such as summer vacation season and on weekends.

Perez said the work, scheduled to take until late 2018 to finish, will have no impact on ferry operations.

The bulkhead rebuild was the only major Houston area project with a bid opening in December, though others were scheduled. Usually bids occur over two consecutive days, but TxDOT spokesman Bob Kaufman said “technical difficulty with our electronic bidding system” canceled the second day. Kaufman said the remaining bids will be delayed until January.

Two of the bids delayed promise major relief for freeway travelers in the area. After it was initially bid to a company that later defaulted on its Texas jobs, officials are ready to proceed with a planned redesign of the Interstate 45 interchange with U.S. 59 near the University of Houston.

The $30 million project will shift the ramps from northbound I-45 to U.S. 59 to Spur 5, which serves as the connection to downtown Houston and runs parallel to I-45. Moving the U.S. 59 connection to Spur 5 eliminates a well-known chokepoint where traffic often weaves dangerously as people make their lane selections.

Once finished, drivers on I-45 northbound will make their connection to U.S. 59 sooner. The change also means someone entering the freeway at Scott Street near the UH campus cannot access U.S. 59.

Also in January, TxDOT plans to open bids on a $131.4 million project widening I-45 north of Montgomery County, where it tapers to two lanes in each direction.