The TxDOT-operated Galveston Ferry shuttles more than 8 million people between Galveston Island and Port Bolivar each year and is a vital link in the Texas transportation network. As a crucial hurricane evacuation route connecting the Bolivar Peninsula to the island and mainland, the state has an obligation to the proper care and maintenance Ferry operations.

A condition assessment revealed the need to replace the 20-year-old bulkhead wall in the area used to service the many ferry boats in service. LAN prepared design documents for this project, which is predominately structural in nature and required careful coordination among all disciplines in order to achieve results that exceed the client’s expectation.

LAN designed the renovation and capacity expansion of the existing maintenance ferry dock system, which included the addition of a fifth maintenance berthing dock. To accommodate the additional berth within the same site, LAN’s design removed the existing floating berths and included a new breasting system with fixed fenders and floating donut fenders. The new design accommodates vessels in port during hurricane (storm surge) conditions.

LAN also prepared the USACE permit application and coordinated review.