Construction is expected to start in June on a new $31.6 million recreational fishing pier project in Galveston County that will replace the former Rollover Pass, 12newsnow.com reported.
Safety and environmental concerns prompted the closure of Rollover Pass.
The 1,000-ft, concrete T-head pier will be safer than the pass, which posed structural risks to visitors and threatened evacuation routes, according to the Texas General Land Office website.
The GLO said the Rollover Pass created multiple hazards. Those included possible damage to State Highway 87's bridge, which was the only evacuation route from Bolivar Peninsula during hurricanes. And after Hurricane Ike, the deteriorating structure was left with jagged and weakened steel walls at risk of collapse.
Still, Rollover Pass' closure prompted regulars who fished there to complain; a man was even arrested at a 2019 protest, according to 12newsnow.com.
"The purpose of the pier is to provide a fishing opportunity that was lost with the closing of Rollover Pass," according to project documentation from the Texas General Land Office.
The new pier, projected for July 2026 completion, will include a combined vendor stand, bait shop, restroom facilities, fish cleaning station and parking area, according to 12newsnow.com.
By closing Rollover Pass, the state was able to address major environmental and economic concerns.
The pass' presence forced dredgings of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at an annual cost of $1 million yearly. The GLO said the closure will help restore Rollover Bay and nearby estuaries to their natural state, That, in turn, will improve fish and oyster habitats.
"The Rollover Pass project, which includes constructing a new fishing pier, building Bayside Park, and restoring the Lauderdale Boat Ramp and Dock, is a significant milestone in coastal conservation," GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said, according to 12newsnow.com. "This project will not only strengthen vital habitats for marine life but will also enhance recreational opportunities for coastal communities and Bolivar Peninsula tourists. I look forward to continued collaboration with Galveston County on this essential project as the Texas General Land Office works to secure victories for our coast and the people of Texas."
Funding for the project comes from numerous sources. The largest ($16 million) comes from the "Surface Damage Account," a state fund for compensations for damages to the surface of state submerged lands, according to the GLO.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development community development block grant migration funds comprise another $12 million in funding, according to 12newsnow.com.
In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency permitted the GLO to use $3.3 million from the destruction of a Galveston to be reallocated to the construction. And the state legislature approved a special appropriation of approximately $337,000 specifically for the closure of Rollover Pass.
The new pier will be built on the west side of the former pass, 12newsnow.com reported.
The Texas General Land Office's Coastal Resources division will oversee the project.
