Path into Galveston gets facelift

(3/10/06 - KTRK/GALVESTON, TX) (KTRK) -- The Galveston Causeway has served as the island's lifeline for decades and TxDOT says it's time to say goodbye. Beginning this weekend, a new causeway will be opened up.

Glen Goff is worried his profits will take flight. Galveston Bait and Tackle has been here more than 70 years, located at the southbound causeway exit.

"The highway's going to be so far over there, the incoming traffic, I don't know if they're going to be able to see me the way it is now," said Goff. "They're 100 yards, 200 yards from my sign now when they come in. Now, they're going to be 250 yards."

Starting Sunday at 7am, northbound traffic will be rerouted to the new causeway. The shift was planned for this week, but unfavorable weather caused delays.

The old causeway was built in the 1930s. TxDOT says it's cheaper to spend an estimated $153 million on a new bridge than repair the old one. The bridge is the main evacuation route off the island.

"This particular facility was planned so it would never involve any loss of capacity for people on Galveston Island, especially during hurricane evacuation season," said Norm Wiggington with TxDOT.

The new causeway bridge north and southbound will have wide shoulders, something the old causeway didn't have. It's something Galveston residents appreciate.

"They have been waiting a long, long time for this and with the influx of people coming into Galveston, it's very important that we don't have a lot of traffic backed up and that's certainly going to help," said Galvestonian Norma Scott.

The new causeway has more razzle-dazzle with a new sign and blue borders. There are also curves replicating waves.

As for Goff, he's got plans to save his business.

"I'm going to go down to the sign department and see if they'll let me put up two signs where they have to make the two extra turns to get here," he said.

The detour signs are expected to go up Saturday night at 8pm with the actual rerouting of northbound traffic off Galveston Island onto the causeway beginning Sunday at 7am.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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