One of nine elements that will make up the northbound side of the Park Road 22 exchange bridge on Padre Island in Corpus Christi fell into place May 17, 2021. The project is expected to be complete by fall. Photo courtesy of Greg Smith
Bridge over new canal expected to kickstart development
Work on the Park Road 22 canal and bridge drew a crowd this week, including District 5 City Councilor Greg Smith, who represents Padre Island. Smith had his camera ready as a major piece of the bridge was lowered into place by crane Monday, May 17.
“We have a bridge,” he wrote on Facebook as he posted photos. “All the north water elements of the water portion of the exchange bridge set.”
Specifically what he means is that all nine sections of the northbound portion of Park Road 22 bridge have been set in place, another step closer to completing the $18.5 million project, something Smith called “a long time coming.”
“The original funding for this started in 2004,” Smith told Corpus Christi Business News. “The Island has been looking for this for a long time now.”
The double bridge, one side for each direction north and south over a canal, was approved by the City Council last fall. The money comes from street bonds approved by voters in 2004 and 2008.
Of equal importance, Smith said, is the canal running beneath the bridge, which allows island residents to cross from one side of the island to another by boat for the first time. The canal is a private development project that runs through about 160 acres of undeveloped land.
“It’s a connectivity issue — it ties the two sides of the island together,” Smith said. “There’s going to be a marine on the Gulf of Mexico side, which will be a quick trip for anyone living on the canals.”
About 80 acres of undeveloped property fronts the canal, which is all zoned for mixed-use commercial and residential. Sidewalks and pathways big enough for golf carts and pedestrians will connect all of the properties.
“It will be much like the San Antonio Riverwalk with the pedestrian availability,” Smith said.
The Park Road 22 bridge is located about halfway between Whitecap Boulevard and Commodores Drive, where the Waves Resort and Schlitterbahn Waterpark await a wrecking ball. That land also will be affected by the improved canal and roadway.
“Schlitterbahn is a large tract of land that creates a lot of opportunity that doesn’t exist in most areas where you have close to 200 acres,” Smith said. “You have waterfront and clean pallets of land for planners to design a 21st century development.”
The canal provides more than development opportunity, Smith continued. It also improves water quality in the area, boosting wildlife.
“It improves water circulation on the canals, which are a dead end,” he said. “We’ll see fresh Gulf water running through really improving water quality in the canals.”
Currently, aerators are set up in 10 areas to add oxygen to the water so it doesn’t stagnate.
“This will really reduce the need for that,” Smith said. “We will see a much greater level of dissolved oxygen, which is critical for wildlife.”
The bridge is expected to be completed sometime in late summer or early fall of this year.
