Bolivar Bridge
Bolivar Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Robert C. Lanier Bolivar Ferry between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula | |
| Coordinates | 29°21′01″N 94°47′03″W / 29.350219°N 94.784075°W |
| Locale | Galveston Island |
| Named for | Bolivar Peninsula |
| Preceded by | Bolivar Ferry |
| Location | |
 | |
The Bolivar Bridge was a proposed bridge connecting
Bolivar Ferry
Service between
Due to the rapid growth of the
The Original Ferry consisted of three vessels. Traditionally, these have always been named for significant directors of the TxDOT. The first three vessels were named "Cone Johnson", "E.H. Thornton, Jr." and "R.S. Sterling". All three of these original ferry boats have been replaced with five slightly larger vessels. The first two had fixed shaft/propeller designs as the original boats. The following three were built with the same basic hull, but steerable prop pods. The oldest of the second generation boats is named "
Proposal
In 2000, TxDOT identified immediate need for improvements to the ferry crossing, specifically a third landing site (which is under construction), and also identified that the best long term solution was to replace the ferry with a bridge linking Galveston and Port Bolivar. The option to make the bridge a toll bridge is being considered along with other options.
TxDOT held meetings with the Galveston and Port Bolivar communities to obtain input. A third ferry landing being built was considered an interim solution only; the long-term goal is a permanent fixed crossing.
TxDOT identified the following alternatives:
- "No Build" (no improvements) – rejected as ferry system is at capacity
- Expansion of ferry system – rejected as the system cannot be relied upon during evacuation or bad weather
- Tunnel Crossing – rejected due to high cost and vehicle/cargo restrictions
The final solution was to build a bridge between the communities. Four tentative corridors were identified:
- Route 1-1, using the existing State Highway 87 corridor
- Route 1-2, using the Galveston Seawall as a corridor
- Route 1-3, using nearby Pelican Island (immediately north of Galveston Island) as a corridor at approximately 29°21′01″N 94°47′03″W / 29.350219°N 94.784075°W.
- Route 2 (including alternatives 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3), using the Texas City Dike as a corridor
The preferred corridor is Route 1-3, the Pelican Island alternative. One estimate for the cost of the bridge was $240 million.[1]
Cancellation of Project
After numerous environmental studies,
References
- ^ a b c "Corrections and Updates: Galveston-Bolivar Crossing". Houston Freeways. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ^ Collette, Mark (July 8, 2007). "Bolivar bridge goes nowhere". The Daily News Galveston County. Retrieved June 12, 2013.