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Pelican Island (Texas): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 29°19′55″N 94°48′22″W / 29.332°N 94.806°W / 29.332; -94.806
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{{Short description|Island in Galveston, Texas}}
{{for|another place|Pelican Island (Corpus Christi Bay)}}
{{Infobox islands
{{Infobox islands
| name = Pelican Island
| name = Pelican Island
| image name =
| image_name =
| image caption =
| image_caption =
| image size =
| image_size =
| map = Texas
| map = Texas
| map_caption =
| map_caption =
| native name =
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| native name link =
| nickname =
| nickname =
| location = [[Galveston Bay]]
| location = [[Galveston Bay]]
| coordinates = {{coord|29.332|-94.806|type:isle_scale:100000|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|29.332|-94.806|type:isle_scale:100000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago =
| archipelago =
| total islands =
| total_islands =
| major islands =
| major_islands =
| area sqmi = 64
| area_sqmi = 6.4
| length mi = 2.85
| length_mi = 2.85
| width mi = 2.67
| width_mi = 2.67
| highest mount =
| highest_mount =
| elevation_ft = 20
| elevation_ft = 20
| country = United States
| country = United States
| country admin divisions title = State
| country_admin_divisions_title = State
| country admin divisions = [[Texas]]
| country_admin_divisions = [[Texas]]
| country admin divisions title 1 = County
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = County
| country admin divisions 1 = [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]]
| country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 =
| country admin divisions title 2 =
| country admin divisions 2 =
| country_admin_divisions_2 =
| country largest city = Part of the City of Galveston
| country_largest_city = Part of the City of Galveston
| country largest city population = 57,523
| country_largest_city_population = 57,523
| population =
| population =
| population_as_of =
| population as of =
| density_km2 =
| density_km2 =
| ethnic groups =
| ethnic_groups =
| additional info =
| additional_info =
}}
}}


'''Pelican Island''' is an island located in [[Galveston County, Texas]]. It is part of the city of [[Galveston]] and is linked to [[Galveston Island]] by the Pelican Island [[causeway]]. The island is home to the [[Texas A&M University at Galveston]] as well as [[USS Stewart (DE-238)]], [[USS Cavalla (SS-244)]], and [[Seawolf Park]]. Seawolf Parkway is the only street that runs across the island.
'''Pelican Island''' is an island located in [[Galveston County, Texas]]. It is part of the city of [[Galveston]] and is linked to [[Galveston Island]] by the Pelican Island [[causeway]]. The island is home to the [[Texas A&M University at Galveston]] as well as two [[museum ship]]s—the [[destroyer escort]] {{USS|Stewart|DE-238}} and the [[submarine]] {{USS|Cavalla|SS-244}}—and [[Seawolf Park]]. Seawolf Parkway is the only street that runs across the island.


In 1965, Galveston businessman [[George P. Mitchell|George Mitchell]] purchased a large parcel of land on Pelican Island and donated some of it for the permanent home of Texas A&M University at Galveston. The [[Intracoastal Waterway]] borders it to the north, separating Pelican Island from another island.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Pelican Island | work = Handbook of Texas Online | accessdate = 2009-10-17 | url = http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rrp12}}</ref>
In 1965, Galveston businessman [[George P. Mitchell|George Mitchell]] purchased a large parcel of land on Pelican Island and donated some of it for the permanent home of Texas A&M University at Galveston. The [[Intracoastal Waterway]] borders it to the north, separating Pelican Island from another island.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Pelican Island | work = Handbook of Texas Online | accessdate = 2009-10-17 | url = http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rrp12}}</ref>

== 2024 partial bridge collapse ==
On May 15, 2024, a tugboat leaving Texas International Terminals, a container terminal next to the Pelican Island causeway, the only bridge connecting the island to the rest of Galveston, lost control of two barges it was pushing. One of the barges, operated by Martin Operating Partnership, then hit the bridge and two telephone poles at approximately 10:00 CDT (3:00 GMT) collapsing a portion of the bridge, causing a [[diesel fuel]] spill, and causing a temporary power outage on the island. Two people were knocked off of the barge or jumped off, but they were quickly rescued. As a result of the collision, the bridge was closed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lozano |first=Juan |last2=Oyekanmi |first2=Lekan |date=2024-05-15 |title=Boat strike causes oil spill, partial collapse of bridge between Galveston and Pelican Island, Texas |url=https://apnews.com/article/bridge-barge-galveston-texas-6c112f0032ab88fbdd0c78d1957247c8 |access-date=2024-05-15 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The barge, which reportedly has a capacity of {{Convert|30000|U.S.gal|L|abbr=on}}, spilled between {{Convert|1000|U.S.gal|L|abbr=on}} and {{Convert|2000|U.S.gal|L|abbr=on}} of oil. Some spilled oil stayed on top of the barge and did not leak into the water.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Courtney |date=2024-05-16 |title=Pelican Island bridge is unstable after barge slammed into pillar, causing oil spill, officials say |url=https://abc13.com/post/pelican-island-causeway-barge-slams-into-bridge-texas-am-galveston-gulf-intracoastal-waterway-oil-spill/14825575/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |work=[[KTRK-TV]]}}</ref>

An approximate {{Convert|6.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} span of the [[Gulf Intracoastal Waterway]] was shut down around the bridge in order to help crews clean up the oil spill. Galveston County officials began evacuations for the approximately 200 people who were on the island at the time of the collapse for anyone who needed to leave the island, but warned that they would be unlikely to be able to return in the near future.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hatfield |first=Mycah |last2=Hurtado |first2=Daniel |last3=Miller |first3=Chaz |date=2024-05-15 |title=Evacuations underway after barge slammed into Pelican Island bridge in Galveston, causing oil spill |url=https://abc13.com/post/galveston-bridge-closure-pelican-island-causeway-news/14820281/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |work=[[KTRK-TV]]}}</ref>


[[File:Pelican Island Texas.jpg|500px|thumb|left|Panoramic view of the western portion of Pelican Island, including the campus of Texas A&M University at Galveston and the [[Port of Galveston|Galveston Ship Channel]].]]
[[File:Pelican Island Texas.jpg|500px|thumb|left|Panoramic view of the western portion of Pelican Island, including the campus of Texas A&M University at Galveston and the [[Port of Galveston|Galveston Ship Channel]].]]
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{{Texas}}
{{Texas}}


[[Category:Barrier islands of Texas]]
[[Category:Islands of Galveston County, Texas]]
[[Category:Islands of Galveston County, Texas]]
[[Category:Galveston, Texas]]
[[Category:Galveston, Texas]]
[[Category:Texas geography stubs]]




Latest revision as of 14:01, 7 June 2024

For another place, see Pelican Island (Corpus Christi Bay).
Pelican Island
Pelican Island is located in Texas
Pelican Island
Pelican Island
Geography
LocationGalveston Bay
Coordinates29°19′55″N 94°48′22″W / 29.332°N 94.806°W / 29.332; -94.806
Area6.4 sq mi (17 km2)
Length2.85 mi (4.59 km)
Width2.67 mi (4.3 km)
Highest elevation20 ft (6 m)
Administration
United States
StateTexas
CountyGalveston County
Largest settlementPart of the City of Galveston (pop. 57,523)

Pelican Island is an island located in Galveston County, Texas. It is part of the city of Galveston and is linked to Galveston Island by the Pelican Island causeway. The island is home to the Texas A&M University at Galveston as well as two museum ships—the destroyer escort USS Stewart (DE-238) and the submarine USS Cavalla (SS-244)—and Seawolf Park. Seawolf Parkway is the only street that runs across the island.

In 1965, Galveston businessman George Mitchell purchased a large parcel of land on Pelican Island and donated some of it for the permanent home of Texas A&M University at Galveston. The Intracoastal Waterway borders it to the north, separating Pelican Island from another island.[1]

2024 partial bridge collapse

[edit]

On May 15, 2024, a tugboat leaving Texas International Terminals, a container terminal next to the Pelican Island causeway, the only bridge connecting the island to the rest of Galveston, lost control of two barges it was pushing. One of the barges, operated by Martin Operating Partnership, then hit the bridge and two telephone poles at approximately 10:00 CDT (3:00 GMT) collapsing a portion of the bridge, causing a diesel fuel spill, and causing a temporary power outage on the island. Two people were knocked off of the barge or jumped off, but they were quickly rescued. As a result of the collision, the bridge was closed.[2] The barge, which reportedly has a capacity of 30,000 U.S. gal (110,000 L), spilled between 1,000 U.S. gal (3,800 L) and 2,000 U.S. gal (7,600 L) of oil. Some spilled oil stayed on top of the barge and did not leak into the water.[3]

An approximate 6.5 mi (10.5 km) span of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was shut down around the bridge in order to help crews clean up the oil spill. Galveston County officials began evacuations for the approximately 200 people who were on the island at the time of the collapse for anyone who needed to leave the island, but warned that they would be unlikely to be able to return in the near future.[4]

Panoramic view of the western portion of Pelican Island, including the campus of Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Galveston Ship Channel.
The island end of Galveston's Pelican Island Causeway taken from an abandoned railroad bridge running beside the causeway

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Pelican Island". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  2. ^ Lozano, Juan; Oyekanmi, Lekan (2024-05-15). "Boat strike causes oil spill, partial collapse of bridge between Galveston and Pelican Island, Texas". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  3. ^ Carpenter, Courtney (2024-05-16). "Pelican Island bridge is unstable after barge slammed into pillar, causing oil spill, officials say". KTRK-TV. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  4. ^ Hatfield, Mycah; Hurtado, Daniel; Miller, Chaz (2024-05-15). "Evacuations underway after barge slammed into Pelican Island bridge in Galveston, causing oil spill". KTRK-TV. Retrieved 2024-05-15.


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