CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Residents of Padre Island are set to receive much-needed water improvements, thanks to the construction of the Commodores Bridge.
The $9 million project aims to improve water circulation throughout the Padre Island system. LJA Engineering Vice President Jeff Coym said that connecting the canals will contribute to the local ecosystem.
"Canals with lower oxygen levels obviously have very low marine life. And getting that oxygen level and circulation up will encourage oyster growth and things like that," he said.
3NEWS spoke with residents in the area who wished to remain anonymous. One woman said that she sees the benefits the bridge will bring when it comes to improving water quality.
"The open water flow is gonna help all of that water flow through and be fresh water, because I know it does smell down there sometimes," she said.
Corpus Christi District 4 Councilmember Dan Suckley said that the Commodores Bridge will work in tandem with the recently finished Don Patricio Bridge to improve water regulation throughout the area.
"Once the Commodores Bridge is built, they are going to bust through that section of land and will connect that water back in the Whitecap development to water being able to go back to the intercoastal waterway," he said.
Suckley said that the new bridge should not cause problems with traffic congestion. He said that there are already routes in place to help alleviate stress on area drivers.
"Whitecap who is going to be building the bridge is already working on a detour lane. So that detour lane is already being worked on and I believe that detour will be open early next week," he said.
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