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Talk of a Second Causeway Resumes Among Local Officials
2344 Views :: 4 Comments :: :: South Padre Island, Port Isabel, Laguna Vista

Talk of a Second Causeway Resumes Among Local Officials

In the wake of Hurricane Dolly, city officials from South Padre, Port Isabel and Laguna Vista came together again to discuss the need for a second causeway in the Laguna Madre area.

by Nicole Ford

Second Causeway Area MapAt an August 7th meeting, representatives from all three cities agreed on the need for inter-city cooperation in an effort to move this initiative forward.

In a discussion involving the location of a second bridge, Mayor Joe Vega of Port Isabel expressed concern about the useful life remaining on the existing causeway.

Experts estimate a timeframe of 9-15 years, making the second bridge an even greater necessity.

As a result of the increased interest and discussion around the second causeway, Cameron County has formed a Regional Mobile Authority (CCRMA) to develop a second point of access between South Padre Island and the mainland.

As a first step, the CCRMA will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to determine potential impacts of a second bridge upon humans and the natural environment.

This process alone will take 3-5 years and environmental approval must be obtained before final design, right-of-way acquisition and construction can begin.

Recently, a position statement was prepared by the South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation on the need for a second causeway.

Several key reasons were presented in support of the new bridge, including:

  1. Safety – Island evacuation is currently difficult because of congestion caused by a single access point to South Padre. In the event of a natural disaster, the second causeway would reduce congestion and expedite evacuation efforts.
  2. Bridge closure – The Queen Isabella Causeway is frequently closed due to accidents on the bridge, resulting in significant delays to residents and visitors.
  3. Traffic Congestion – Spring break and summer fireworks cause gridlock on the current bridge. A new bridge would allow an alternate route and alleviate some of the traffic.
  4. Access to doctors and hospitals – A new bridge could decrease travel time to medical care, especially during peak traffic times on the Island.
  5. Increased Tourism – Easier access to South Padre Island will generate more visitors, especially if the second causeway acts as a faster route to local airports.
Also of great interest to area residents is the eventual location of this causeway.

In the statement prepared by the SPI Economic Development Corporation, a bridge located north of the town of South Padre Island is advocated because the location complies with a feasibility study done by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The Economic Development Corporation also maintains that a northern bridge will do more to ease congestion on the current causeway, allow for faster evacuation of the Island, and provide a quicker route to Harlingen hospitals and the airport.

In the meantime, local residents are encouraging officials to look into other forms of transportation to increase tourism and ease transportation.

One idea that has been proposed is an Island ferry that would provide an alternate access point to South Padre and serve as a fun activity for visitors. Since a second bridge will likely take years to develop, alternate transportation methods will take on increasing importance in the coming years.

Despite all of the uncertainty surrounding the second causeway, one thing has become crystal clear: another bridge is a necessity. And in order to make it a reality, Laguna Madre Area officials must work together toward a mutually agreeable outcome.
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Comments
Mike Stuart @ Thursday, August 21, 2008 12:32 PM
They should plan a Ferry while the bridge is under design and construction, a process that typically takes 15-18 years.
Steve Finley @ Saturday, April 04, 2009 8:09 AM
I agree. I think a ferry service would be great. TxDot might be suprized at just how successful a ferry line could be. Think how nice it would be if after a 4-6-9 trip from San Antonio/Austin or Houston, you could pull on the ferry , get out and strech your legs, then take a nice trip across the bay and decompress down to "Island Time". Weather is a factor in ferry traffic, but normally it is favorable.
Sid Ramos @ Tuesday, March 09, 2010 9:09 PM
If we are really thinking about the future a bridge isn't going to solve our problem, we need a Light Rail System. If we build a bridge today thirty years from we'll need to build another, if not sooner and likely with 10 lanes to absorb traffic. I don't know about y'all but I like the open spaces our great state offers. As it stands today our residential developments are gulping up many of these vistas we enjoy today. If we really want to plan for the future while curbing our carbon footprint then Light Rail is the way to go. Let us take up the land as need be, when our population calls for it, which is already happening at a pretty good rate. Place a Light Rail right along our current expressway system, better yet put it right in the center of it, from Laredo, or further, to SPI to Brownsville with a continuous service loop connecting each city along the way. This would definately increase tourisim to SPI, grow business and eliminate traffic issues that exist today. A second bridge morelikely will to be a a short lived economic growth spurt. We can achieve the same multiplied by 10 with Light Rail with many more years of service. Moreover, this not only will take care of our current taffic issue but create a greate communting system for both work and play. The system can even make a luxerious line for those with deeper pockets. 600 million dollars can make a pretty good dent on a Light Rail System that that crosses to SPI at or near Port Isabel.
Armando @ Saturday, July 10, 2010 9:51 AM
There are over 1,ooo people on the beach sunday afternoons. How are ferries going to help? Everbody wants to get on or off the Island as quick as possible. A second bridge will loosen the traffic. We are losing tourist due to the traffic.
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