-Caveat Lector- In a message dated 9/30/01 1:25:57 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> 1. The collapse of the Queen Isabella Causeway connecting Padre > with the mainland. > This occurred on 9/11 and was said to be caused by an off course > tug towing a barge. > Has anyone heard or read any more about this? Who was > piloting the tug? Has there been any investigation? > If you have any recent links, I'd appreciate your sharing them with > me. Three articles below. Pull-quote from the third article: "Officials said the incident was unrelated to terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Officials said the tug operator passed a sobriety test. None of the coiled steel and phosphate aboard the barges spilled into the waterway, officials said. " ----- http://www.dallasnews.com/texas_southwest/481544_bridge_27tex.A.html South Padre jobs drying up with few tourists to serve Since bridge fell, water's the only way 09/27/2001 By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN – As state officials announced an emergency $4 million contract to rebuild the damaged Queen Isabella Causeway, South Padre Island's mayor said hundreds of residents have lost their jobs since the deadly bridge accident. The Texas Department of Transportation said Wednesday that a Houston company had been hired to replace a 400-foot section of the causeway that collapsed after it was rammed by a tugboat and four barges on Sept. 15. Eight people were killed after their cars plunged from the damaged bridge into Laguna Madre in the early-morning darkness. The last of the bodies pulled from the water was identified Tuesday. Amadeo Saenz, district engineer for the Transportation Department, said the emergency contract called for the bridge repairs to be completed by Dec. 23. The 2.4-mile causeway is the only road link between the mainland and the island. For the next three months, passenger and auto ferries will be used to transport people to and from the island – including a 45-car ferry that is coming from Alabama and should be in operation within two weeks. South Padre Island Mayor Ed Cyganiewicz said Wednesday that the resort town was feeling the effects of the bridge accident. Hundreds of residents have lost their jobs because of the sharp drop in the number of tourists. In addition, $25 million to $30 million in construction projects have been put on hold because of the inability to get concrete to the island. "South Padre Island is open for business," the mayor said, urging Texans to come and vacation on the island while the bridge is rebuilt. While most local businesses such as hotels and restaurants are hurting, Mr. Cyganiewicz said they were open and would accommodate those who come with or without vehicles. "Texans can help South Padre Island by traveling south and supporting our tourism industry," he said. "This would minimize the potential economic damage." The mayor and Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, also used the occasion to urge the Texas Transportation Commission to approve an environmental impact study for a second bridge linking the island to the mainland. The proposed study will be considered on Thursday. "We are in desperate need of a second bridge," Mr. Cyganiewicz said. If approved, the study would take about a year to complete. Since the accident, state ferries brought over from Port Aransas have transported hundreds of cars off the island, including 500 vehicles owned by residents who work on the mainland. The ferry service is not taking cars to the island yet, officials said. More than 19,000 vehicles traveled over the causeway on a typical day before the bridge was damaged. Gov. Rick Perry has issued a disaster declaration that will allow 80 percent of the $4 million in bridge repairs to be paid for with federal highway dollars. The state will pay the remaining portion. The governor also announced that the Small Business Administration would activate an economic injury disaster loan program for businesses in Cameron and adjacent counties that have been hurt by the collapse of the causeway. The accident is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The U.S. Coast Guard also is looking into the incident. A public safety spokesman said Wednesday that results of a blood test given to the captain of the tugboat have not been received yet. --------- http://www.txcn.com/texasnews/STORY.e91581de81.93.88.fa.80.24bd5f3a.html Bridge collapse may result in $55 million economic hit 09/28/2001 Associated Press Port Isabel – The effects of the collapse of the only bridge linking tourist-popular South Padre Island to the mainland could be tens of millions of dollars. Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa has written his concerns to Governor Rick Perry. Hinojosa estimates the Sept. 15 collapse of the Queen Isabella Causeway will cost the local economy nearly $55 million. The Brownsville Herald reports more than 730 people have already lost their jobs. Eight motorists died in the collapse that began when barges hit the more than two-mile bridge. Three sections of the span fell into the water. State officials Thursday approved doing an environmental study for possible construction of a second bridge. Meanwhile, ferries are hauling people and vehicles. (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) --------- http://www.disasternews.net/news/news.php?articleid=1276 TX bridge collapse brings tragedy PJ HELLER PORT ISABEL, TX (September 17, 2001) — Efforts to locate victims missing after a portion of a major bridge collapsed were suspended Sunday because of safety concerns. At least five people were killed early Saturday after four barges slammed into a piling of the Queen Isabella Causeway, the only link between the small fishing village of Port Isabel on the mainland and South Padre Island, a popular tourist destination. Among the dead was Robert Harris, fire marshal in Port Isabel. An unknown number of people were missing after between five and 10 cars plunged 85 feet into the water. At least 13 people were pulled from the water. Several of them were hospitalized. Two 80-foot spans of the 2.37-mile four-lane causeway, the state's longest bridge, collapsed after the pre-dawn crash. A third 80-foot span collapsed Saturday afternoon, prompting authorities to halt recovery operations until the structural integrity of the rest of the causeway could be determined by the Texas Department of Transportation. Recovery work was not expected to resume until late Sunday or Monday. Officials said the incident was unrelated to terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Officials said the tug operator passed a sobriety test. None of the coiled steel and phosphate aboard the barges spilled into the waterway, officials said. Telephone service was knocked out to the island. A water pipe to the island was also severed leaving islanders with only available supplies available there. Ferry service was implemented to transport people on the island to the mainland. More than 7 million vehicles used the bridge in 1999, according to state officials. Padre Island has about 2,000 permanent residents but its population swells to 200,000 during college Spring Break. Hotels were 70 percent booked on Saturday when the crash occurred. Prior to the accident, officials had considered building a second causeway, this one from Laguna Vista to the island. Officials said the second bridge was needed in case of a hurricane evacuation. Posted September 17, 2001 ---------- Samantha ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Related Articles from Disaster News Network: Students find solace in faith <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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