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A Magical Island Kingdom ™ |
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The Galveston Causeway Prior to the 1900 Storm, the City was using the 1893 wooden wagon bridge, and more than one railroad bridge. All were heavily damaged by The Storm, so the railroads decided to just repair the damage to the Santa Fe bridge, and share this one bridge, which re-connected Galveston to the outside world via train. However, the railroads were concerned about competition from automobiles and trucks, so they resisted efforts to build a new bridge that everyone could use. At the same time, occasional fires on the wooden railroad trestle caused problems and delays.  The
1893 wooden wagon bridge.
 A
swinging bridge allowed
boat traffic to pass.
 The
repaired Santa Fe railroad bridge.
Finally, the Texas Railroad Commission ordered the railroads to build a "fireproof" causeway, but some of the funding would be provided by the taxpayers. The design called for twenty eight 70-foot-long reinforced-concrete arches to span the 2 mile distance across West Bay. A drawbridge would offer a 100 foot wide passage for boats. The Causeway would rise 17 feet above the water, and accommodate two railroad tracks, the rails for the Electric Interurban passenger line, a 19 foot wide road for cars, trucks and pedestrians, and a 30" water main. It was designed to withstand future hurricanes, by being anchored to a foundation of concrete pilings driven 16 feet into the bottom of the Bay. Its design would also eliminate any future problems with fires. Construction began on 21 July 1909 and the project was completed on 25 May 1912. The Causeway opened, with Governor Colquitt leading a line of 1,500 cars across the new bridge to the outside world.  The
opening of the Causeway, 25 May 1912.
Note: Cars to the left of the drawbridge, Interurban Electric on the drawbridge, freight train to the right of the drawbridge. Twelve years after the 1900 Storm, The Seawall was standing tall against the Gulf, The Grade Raising brought the elevation of the City up to a much safer level, and a reliable link to the Mainland put Galveston in an excellent position to face the future.  Cars, pedestrians and trains crossing the Causeway.  Train just over the drawbridge.  Interurban
electric providing service
between Galveston and Houston.  Today, the original Causeway still acts as the railroad bridge from Galveston to the Mainland.  The roadbed is no longer used for auto and truck traffic, but the water main still brings water to The Island.  Close
up of an arch.
As
the amount of auto
and truck
traffic grew, new lanes were
badly needed.
Construction of a separate
span
just for cars and trucks, began in 1935,
and it opened
in 1938. With the addition of
this new span, the 1912
Causeway could be used
exclusively by the railroads.
From that
point on, "The
Causeway"
would no
longer be a single span,
since the
need for more and more lanes would force the construction of multiple
spans to carry increasing traffic. By 1956
there
was a need for even more
auto
and truck lanes,
so
another new
span was
designed that would rise 72
feet
above the water
to avoid
the need for
a drawbridge.
When it opened in 1961,
work began to raise
the 1938 span to match the
newest span. The retrofitted 1938
causeway re-opened in 1964.
 Photo taken from the top of the just-completed 1961 span, with the 1938 span to its left and below. The original 1912 span (now the railroad bridge) is off to the far left. Pilings running under the newer spans is the passage for boats.  The 1912 span on the left, with the retrofitted 1938 span, and 1961 span, both on the right. Drawbridge on 1912 span (current railroad bridge) is in the up position.  Boat passage through the 1912 span (with drawbridge up), and under the 1938/1964 and 1961 spans.  Close up of the drawbridge and boat passage.  Satellite
photo of the 2-mile Causeway crossing from
Galveston Island on the right, to the Mainland on the left. Currently, two new spans are under construction to replace the 1938/1964 and 1961 spans for cars and trucks. The boat passage in the 1912 span will also be widened, since its narrow 100 foot width has been the reason for many collisions with the sides of the passage!  New Causeway under construction to the right of the 1938/1964 and 1961 spans.  |
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