GALVESTON, Texas – Authorities have resumed the evacuation of people who were stuck on Pelican Island after a barge struck the causeway connecting it with Galveston Wednesday morning.
The barge struck the bridge around 10 a.m. Wednesday, causing damage to the structure.
Authorities had been letting vehicles that were on the island cross the bridge one by one and Galveston County Judge Mark Henry had said they didn’t anticipate anyone being stranded on the island overnight.
However, around 6:30 p.m., the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management said the decision was made to shut down the bridge until further notice. The agency said the decision was made after units saw shifting in the handrails and the concrete on the bridge.
Shortly before 10 p.m., the bridge reopened to traffic leaving the island, according to the City of Galveston. Residents of Pelican Island may cross the bridge onto the island by foot only.
The barge that struck the causeway was carrying 30,000 barrels of vacuum gas oil, which is described by a chemical engineer as pre-processed crude oil that eventually becomes gasoline or diesel. Officials estimate up to 5,000 gallons leaked, forcing a six and a half mile closure of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
“That’s pretty significant,” said Galveston County Judge Mark Henry. “That’s going to impact commercial maritime and pleasure maritime traffic.”
Hundreds of people were estimated to have been on the island when the barge struck the bridge. They tried leaving the only way possible with officials warning they may not be able to return.
Some people were waiting over five hours to get off the island. Others like one Texas A&M - Galveston student KPRC 2 talked to couldn’t even get there.
“I’m just going to hope that the bridge reopens soon,” said Preston Willet. “I have pets over there and all kinds of stuff that i kind of need to get.”
Federal and state crews are still assessing how much damage the oil spill may have caused.
“I’m concerned like the environmental impacts of the oil spill. I’m really hoping that they can get that cleaned up soon, because it’s not going to be good for the fish or the birds,” said Texas A&M - Galveston student Andrea Dunlap.
The oil has to be cleaned up and the barge removed before divers can inspect the bridge pilings and determine its structural integrity.
An economist at Rice tells KPRC 2 the economic impact of this will be nothing like the Baltimore bridge collapse, but this will of course have a local impact for those who live and work on Pelican Island.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation.