Galveston Causeway

The causeway carries traffic over Galveston Bay and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

The construction of a new southbound bridge began in 2006, however Hurricane Ike delayed completion until November 2008.

This is in contrast to a typical hurricane, which would cause the closure of the causeway due to wind before surge.

As of the early afternoon on September 13, 12 hours after official landfall, the causeway was blocked by numerous watercraft.

In 2001, the U.S. Coast Guard had declared the old span's narrow passageway to be a hazard to navigation.

New Galveston Causeway bridge under construction in 2007
The old bascule bridge in its raised position.
A barge passing under the new lift span on the railroad causeway, with the 2008-opened new causeway for road vehicles visible at left.
The old bascule span now in Petaluma, California. It was repainted to match the theme color for the commuter train seen here. The taller bridge in the background is US 101 .