As TxDOT continues to work on the SH 146 Expansion the Coast Guard has approved the following:
South Channel Blocked - Current through August 16
North Channel Blocked - August 17 through August 18
South Channel Blocked - August 19 through September 19
The channel will be fully open during the following high vessel traffic events:
September 4th beginning at 8 AM through midnight on September 7 for Labor Day weekend.
Impact to Boaters
Please be advised that when one channel is closed, the other channel will have two-way vessel traffic. The two-way traffic will be managed as follows:
Traffic will be directed by a green and red signal on each side of the channel, indicating allowed direction of travel in the channel based on time. The time interval is 5 minutes per direction. This is based on feedback from the boating community and the U. S. Coast Guard.
Flagging vessels plan to use radio channel 16 to communicate with approaching vessels. Please pay attention to the radio and to message boards near the channel for any updates.
Flaggers on boats will direct traffic during daylight working hours on weekends, or as directed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
To assist boaters in navigating through the correct channel, chains of red/orange round buoys will be placed delineating the edge of the travel to the open channel, and prevent boaters from entering the closed channel.
At various times law enforcement assets will be on-scene to included Galveston County Sheriff’s Marine Division and U.S. Coast Guard to ensure adherence to this marine traffic management plan.
Message boards have been placed on both approaches to the channel to assist with notifying approaching vessels.
Additional closures will continue to take place throughout the SH146 project as both sides of the existing bridge are widened and a new express bridge is constructed.
