Gov. reopens Causeway

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MySan : Associated Press : Texas Wire

Associated Press : Texas Wire

reopens Queen Isabella Causeway; drives across new span

The Associated Press

Web Posted : 11/21/2001 2:21 PM

Gov. Rick on Wednesday celebrated the reopening of the

Queen Isabella Causeway with hundreds of residents by cutting the ceremonial

ribbon that draped the reconstructed bridge and promptly drove across it.

The $4.3 million project was completed a month ahead of

schedule, allowing vehicles to once again travel the only roadway linking South

Padre Island to the Texas mainland.

" Not a greater Thanksgiving could we have in Texas, "

said before cutting the ribbon.

After cutting the ribbon about 10:30 a.m., and other

community leaders got into a van and drove across the four-lane bridge.

The bridge opening was greeted enthusiastically by residents

who have been forced to take ferries to get to the mainland.

Port Isabel resident Fidel Garza said, " I wish I could be the

first one to cross in my motorcycle. "

While no one at the ceremony expressed concern about driving

over the newly completed span, Toribio Garza, with the Texas Department of

Transportation, said ferry service will continue through Friday, and possibly

the weekend, " because of some apprehension that people may feel crossing the

causeway. "

The midsection of the bridge was destroyed Sept. 15 when a tug

boat with four barges slammed into a bridge support. Eight people were killed

when their cars plummeted 85 feet into Laguna Madre below.

The accident was caused in part by an unusually strong current

that swept the barges off course, according to testimony last month at a Coast

Guard hearing in Corpus Christi, Texas.

's office has estimated that 5,600 employees and 2,378

businesses were affected by the disaster, with the economic impact estimated at

$45 million to $55 million if the causeway reopening had been Dec. 23 as

originally scheduled.

A televised concert by country music singer Garth is

scheduled for Nov. 28, which could help rejuvenate the economy in Port Isabel

and South Padre Island.

has asked President Bush to reconsider his

administration's decision not to provide federal disaster unemployment

assistance to the area affected by the bridge collapse.

The governor wrote a letter to Bush after a request from

Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa, asking that the Federal Emergency

Management Agency take another look at the effects of the bridge collapse was

denied.

The collapse caused thousands of job losses and cost millions

to the tourism-dependent economy.

In the letter sent Monday, challenged FEMA's claim that

state and local governments can meet the needs of all citizens who lost jobs

because of the collapse.

" The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program could provide

assistance for individuals not currently eligible for unemployment assistance, "

wrote in his appeal. " This assistance would address the unmet needs of the

sole-proprietors and other self-employed small business people, and provide

assistance to those whose unemployment benefits have been exhausted. "

Meanwhile, the National Highway Administration has announced

it will reimburse the state and local governments $10 million for ferries,

shuttle buses and other transportation services employed while the causeway was

out of service.

The ferry industry, which became the only means of

transportation on or off South Padre Island since the accident, could take an

economic hit.

The bridge repairs were done by Houston-based

Brothers Inc.

11/21/2001

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