Island, Port Isabel celebrate causeway anniversary

When the Queen Isabella Causeway opened 35 years ago,the bridge drew South Padre Island and Port Isabel into a mutually beneficial relationship that might otherwise have never occurred.

That’s how Port Isabel Mayor JoeVega characterized the importance of the causeway, now called the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge, in ceremonies Saturday marking the 35th anniversary of the 1974 bridge dedication.

Leo“Speck”Sanders, who was mayor of Port Isabel when the causeway was first opened, was among the dignitaries on hand for the rededication. He told of his recollections of how rapidly change came to both towns when the bridge was completed.

“I have been very fortunate to have lived to witness the growth and development that has taken place,”said Sanders, who still serves the city in various volunteer efforts, including as a director on the board of the Economic Development Corporation.

He said the bridge has been a lifesaver for the whole area.

State Sen. Eddie Lucio read a Senate proclamation congratulating the two towns for taking advantage of the unique opportunities presented to them by the completion of the bridge, which spurred growth and development in both towns as nothing else could have done.

The rededication ceremony,scheduled to take place at the bridge marker on the Port Isabel end of the causeway, was moved inside the Treasures of the Gulf Museum because of uncertainty over the weather forecast for Saturday morning.

A screen behind the speakers flashed pictures of the causeway, alternating with a picture of the marker, as various dignitaries spoke.

Featured speakers were Vega; South Padre Island Mayor Robert N.“Bob”Pinkerton Jr.; Sanders; Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos and Lucio.

Present but not scheduled to speak were other dignitaries, including state Rep. Tara Rios-Ybarra, city commissioners from both towns, and members of the committee who organized the anniversary ceremony.

Vega thanked Lucio for leading the move in the state Senate to change the name Queen Isabella Causeway to Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge in memory of those who died in the partial bridge collapse in 2001, when a barge brought down a span over the Intracoastal Waterway.

Vega then presented a proclamation to Pinkerton, praising the working relationships established between the two towns in the past and pledging to continue working together for the good of both.

Pinkerton spoke about his life on the Island, during which time he has twice served multiple terms as mayor. He said that in 1972 when he moved his family here,some of them wondered why he chose such a small place to try to build a business.“Because I expect great things to happen here,”he told them.And they stayed.

He promised Vega that he would support every effort to keep the causeway in good and safe operating condition for years to come.

Cascos said the economic impact of the bridge has been enormous.He said that when a second causeway is finally constructed it will be because everyone in the area worked together to see it happen.He said money is tight, and everybody knows that, but that what is available must be expended intelligently to bring the second access to reality.