Pelican Island Causeway closed after barge hits bridge, Galveston city officials confirm

This happened just before 10 a.m. Crews from the Texas Department of Transportation are on the scene to assess the damage. The bridge will remain closed until it is deemed safe to use. City officials said there were no reported injuries. 

Power was temporarily interrupted to Pelican Island, which is home to Texas A&M University at Galveston.

Aerial views from Air 11 showed that a part of the train trestle that runs along the bridge had collapsed. 

The bridge connects the north side of Galveston Island just west of the Port of Galveston with the south side of Pelican Island. This is the only road to and off the Pelican Island.

City officials said Harborside Drive is open to east-west traffic but drivers will not be able to turn north toward Pelican Island from 51st and Harborside. Galveston police officers are in the area detouring traffic.

While vehicle traffic has been halted on the bridge, it has also been stopped for vessels.  

Emergency officials said Martin Petroleum owns the barge that hit the bridge.

There is an oil spill and city officials said the U.S. Coast Guard is on scene to assess that. Emergency officials said  The capacity of the barge is 30,000 gallons and the amount that has leaked out is unknown.

The leak has caused a closing of a section of the Intracoastal Waterway from Mile Marker 350.5 to Mile Marker 357, approximately 6.5 miles.

Pelican Island is home to Texas A&M University at Galveston.

University officials are assessing campus impacts in coordination with city, county, and state officials and will issue a communication at noon and 2 p.m. through the university’s emergency alert system, university email, and social media.

University officials said Captain’s Landing is open and available for dining needs for those stuck on Pelican Island. 

Check back for more on this developing story.

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