Water

Partial Channel Closures

As TxDOT continues to work on the SH 146 Expansion the Coast Guard has approved the following:

Partial Channel Closures - December 5 through February 29

Channel closures will alternate between the north and south channel. Mariners are advised to follow the vessel traffic plan as outlined below.

Vessel Traffic Plan:

  • To assist boaters in navigating through the correct channel, chains of red round buoys will be placed delineating the edge of the travel to the open channel, and prevent boaters from entering the closed channel.

  • During any Coast Guard approved partial channel closure, one-way vessel traffic shall switch directions every 5 minutes, upon direction of the red and green traffic signals.

  • Flaggers on boats will direct traffic from 7:00 a.m. to sunset on Saturday and Sunday. There will be no flaggers during the weekday.

  • Electronic message boards will be mounted on either side of the channel.

  • At various times law enforcement assets will be on-scene, to include Galveston County Sheriff's Office, Marine Division, and U.S. Coast Guard, to ensure adherence to the established marine traffic management plan.

The channel will be fully open during the following high vessel traffic events:

  • December 31st-January 1st Kemah Boardwalk Fireworks

  • Yachty Gras February 14th-16th

Overview of Bridge

Channel Closure Update

As TxDOT continues to work on the SH 146 Expansion the Coast Guard has approved the following:

South Channel Blocked - November 18 through December 4

North Channel Blocked - December 5 through January 18

The channel will be fully open during the following high vessel traffic events:

  • December 13-15 Christmas Boat Lane Parade

  • December 31-January 1 Kemah Boardwalk Fireworks

Impact to Boaters

  • During any Coat Guard approved partial channel closure, one-way vessel traffic shall switch directions every 5 minutes, upon the direction of the red and green traffic signals.

  • Flaggers on boats will direct traffic during the weekend from 5 pm to sunset on Friday, 7 am to sunset on Sunday and 7 am to sunset on Sunday. There will be no flaggers during the weekday working hours.

  • Electronic message boards will be mounted on either side of the channel.

  • To assist boaters in navigating through the correct channel, chains of red 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 include Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Marine Division, and US Coast Guard, to ensure adherence to the established marine traffic management plan.

View of Channel