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24-606: The Bolivar Bridge was a proposed bridge connecting Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula in the United States state of Texas . Its intention was to replace the Bolivar Ferry, the only direct connection for traffic from Galveston Island. In 2007, it was decided that the study would not move forward leaving everything as is. Service between Galveston and Port Bolivar is currently provided via

48-630: A ferry operated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) linking both halves of State Highway 87 . The state-operated ferry has operated since 1934, replacing earlier operations. Due to the rapid growth of the Greater Houston area (which includes Galveston County ), the commute time required to board the ferry has rapidly increased (during the summer the wait can be up to two hours), which slows emergency response times (there are few emergency services, and no hospitals, on

72-421: A final plan to cancel the project. The plan was canceled in 2007. Failure to find a partner to support the project was a deciding factor for not building the bridge. The ferry systems will remain as the access point to the Bolivar Peninsula from Galveston Island. Galveston Island The island is about 27 miles (43.5 km) long and no more than 3 miles (4.8 km) wide at its widest point. The island

96-733: A time before the American Civil War was the largest cotton shipping port in the world and the second-largest port for immigration in the United States. In the mid-19th century, it was a major port of entry for the many Germans who entered the state. During the Civil War, the Union army seized control of the island from the South for a few months during early 1863. Confederate forces commanded by John B. Magruder expelled them from

120-406: Is Tiki Island, an affluent village of 1,016 people, that was established in the 1960s and incorporated in 1982. West Bay is bounded by San Luis Pass to its south, and Galveston Causeway to the north, where it meets with Galveston Bay. It is adjacent to Christmas Bay , which extends south into Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge . Its extensions include Chocolate Bay to the west, Jones Bay to

144-538: Is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the Gulf of Mexico on the east and south, West Bay on the west, and Galveston Bay on the north. The island's main access point from the mainland is Interstate Highway 45 which crosses the Galveston Causeway that crosses West Bay on the northeast side of the island. The far north end of the island is separated from the Bolivar Peninsula by Galveston Harbor,

168-462: 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;

192-592: The older settlement on the Yucatan Peninsula . For a few years, the island and the bay were their base for piracy and smuggling in slaves after the United States had ended its international slave trade in 1808. After attacking an American ship, Lafitte was forced in 1821 to leave by the US Navy. With the advent of Mexican independence in 1821, and the Texas Revolution soon after in 1836,

216-534: The Anglo-American population in the Republic of Texas began to grow rapidly. The island quickly became Texas' primary port and a destination for immigration. Following Texas' annexation by the United States in 1845, the island's population soon surpassed the population of San Antonio . It became the state's major population center, a title it would hold until nearly the end of the 19th century. Galveston for

240-524: The Lanier, these schemes are Orange/White for UT, Maroon/White for TAMU, Green/Gold for Baylor U., and Red/Blue for Southern Methodist U. The current fleet of ferries comprises seven vessels, the newest of which is the Esperanza "Hope" Andrade which entered service in the spring of 2024. In 2000, TxDOT identified immediate need for improvements to the ferry crossing, specifically a third landing site (which

264-551: The area within the seawall. In time, the elevation of the eastern portion of the island was raised by as much as 17 ft (5.2 m). For a complete listing, see list of cities and towns in Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land MSA West Bay (Texas) West Bay , also referred to as West Galveston Bay , is a long inlet of Galveston Bay in Galveston and Brazoria counties that nearly runs

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288-464: The city was destroyed, and at least 6,000 people were killed in a few hours. Isaac M. Cline , the meteorologist in charge of the local Weather Bureau, lived on Galveston Island. Cline was aware of a storm in the Gulf based on previous reports from Florida. Although weather conditions were relatively calm on September 7, Cline observed the rough seas and the high waves that seemed to become more ominous by

312-512: The entire length west of Galveston Island . West Bay, as it is known today, began its formation about 5,500 years ago when Galveston Island was shaped following the rise in the sea level. At the time, West Bay was situated just north of the mouth of the Brazos River , which formed a delta at what is now San Luis Pass . Three thousand years later, the river diverted south to its present location at Surfside Beach . The bay's current formation

336-684: The entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel . Ferry service is available between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. The southern end of the island is separated from the mainland by San Luis Pass . The San Luis Pass-Vacek Toll Bridge connects the San Luis Pass Road on Galveston Island with the Bluewater Highway that leads south into the town of Surfside Beach . The residents of

360-581: The first settlement by ethnic Europeans on Galveston Island in 1816. Jao de la Porta was born in Portugal of Jewish parentage; he became a trader in Texas. (De la Porta was named supercargo for the Karankawa Indian trade and later became a full-time trader.) The privateer Jean Lafitte brought his men and followers from Louisiana to the island, naming his settlement Campeche , after

384-413: The hour. He sent a telegram to Washington, D.C., saying he thought a large part of the city was going to be underwater. He predicted a very heavy loss of life. After the hurricane passed, the state and city constructed a seawall around the settled portion of the island. Some houses were razed, and the many new ones to be constructed were built on stilts. Sand dredged from nearby waterways was pumped into

408-525: The island (the non-tourists) classify themselves in two ways: born on the island (BOI) and islander by choice (IBC). “BOI” is cited in print from at least 1956 and “IBC” is cited in print from 1975. All residents are zoned to Ball High School . Colleges and universities include: At the time of European encounter, Akokisa and Karankawa indigenous Americans lived and camped on what became known as Galveston Island. Earlier cultures likely used it as well for seasonal fishing and hunting. Historians believe

432-665: The island is where Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and his small party of around 80, made a brief stopover in November 1528, during his lengthy and notable survival odyssey. After returning to Spain in 1537, Cabeza de Vaca wrote an account of his eight years of traveling across what is now the US Southwest, first published in 1542 as La relación y comentarios ("The Account and Commentaries" ), and in later editions retitled Naufragios y comentarios ("Shipwrecks and Commentaries"). Jao de la Porta , along with his brother Morin, financed

456-464: The island, and the Confederates controlled it for the remainder of the war. On September 8, 1900, the greatest natural disaster to ever strike the United States occurred at Galveston. In the early evening hours of September 8, the Galveston hurricane of 1900 came ashore, bringing with it a great storm surge that inundated most of Galveston Island and the city of Galveston. As a result, much of

480-568: The long-term goal is a permanent fixed crossing. TxDOT identified the following alternatives: The final solution was to build a bridge between the communities. Four tentative corridors were identified: The preferred corridor is Route 1-3, the Pelican Island alternative. One estimate for the cost of the bridge was $ 240 million. After numerous environmental studies, TxDOT worked with the Houston-Galveston district and made

504-484: 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 " Gibb Gilchrist ", followed by the " Robert C. Lanier ", "Dewitt C. Greer", "Ray Stoker, Jr.", and the " Robert H. Dedman ". The later 4 vessels are all painted in a differing color scheme to honor various universities of the State. Consecutively as named above starting with

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528-405: The peninsula, thus requiring trips to Galveston). Maintenance costs for the ferry crossing have risen to approximately $ 12 million per year, a 200 percent increase in the last eight years alone. The ferry is unusable in the event a tropical storm or hurricane approaches the area, thus forcing evacuating traffic onto the other two egresses from the island ( Interstate 45 and a two-lane toll bridge on

552-659: The west end of the island), and projected ship traffic in Galveston Bay (including the Houston Ship Channel ) is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. 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

576-407: Was complete by about 1,200 years ago. The main settlements on the bay include Tiki Island located at the mainland base of the Galveston Causeway , and Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island, just south of Galveston Island State Park . Jamaica Beach, a resort with a population of about 1,075 was found in 1957 on the site of a former Karankawa Indian burial ground. Across the bay from Jamaica Beach

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