Various ramps will be closed beginning this week while work is done to replace wood piling clusters and other parts at the Port Aransas ferry landings, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which runs the ferry system.

Ramps on Mustang and Harbor islands will be affected, according to a news release issued by TxDOT.

“We are in the final stage of replacing all the wood pile clusters and fenders on ramps still having them with composite materials,” said Howard Gillespie, the ferry operations manager. “Most of the ramps have already gone through this transition in recent years and the intent is to replace all the wood with composite pilings and fenders that last longer and provide more protection for the ferries.

“While multiple ramps will be closed at the same time during the process, it is our goal to have as little impact on traffic as possible and to have the majority of the work completed prior to spring break,” Gillespie said.

Beginning Thursday, Jan. 5, or the following day, work will begin on Harbor Island and is slated to last two weeks.

The work will shift to Mustang Island in late January.

Ramps that are closed during the week to house a crane and supply barges will be cleared for use during weekends as traffic picks up.

The project will be done by Russell Marine, LLC, which has 100 working days to finish the job, according to a contract the firm has with TxDOT.

 

The cost for the project is $3.5 million, with grants from the Federal Highway Administration covering most of the cost.