SPI 2nd Access

The SPI 2nd access project is said to be one of the most critical safety projects in Texas and the most environmentally complex project in the United States.

South Padre Island is home to nearly 3,000 residents year-round. During peak seasons, millions of visitors can be seen visiting South Padre Island; in 2016 alone over 8.2 million people visited the island. With an increasing number of vehicles destined to travel to South Padre Island and only one access to the mainland, new infrastructure developments are needed to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety.

The CCRMA, in partnership with TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration, are working on the SPI 2nd Access. The new access will provide an additional emergency evacuation route and improve emergency response times. Along with the further development of a new access, we open the doors to economic development in the northern part of the island. The development of the South Padre Island 2nd Access Project began in 2008 and continues undergoing review for the Environmental Document and preliminary engineering.

Project Highlight

The access is planned to be 8 miles long beginning near Holly Beach and will traverse the Laguna Madre. Currently the design is being developed in a manner to cause the least amount of environmental impacts to the seagrass and other local species habitats we all enjoy when on the water.

Project Status

The final Environmental Impact Study for the SPI 2nd Access project is currently under federal review and an environmental approval is expected in the Fall of 2019. Currently, project is on hold by TxDOT.

Improving Safety

Adds an emergency
evacuation route

in case of hurricanes or tropical storms

Improves Emergency
Response Times

With additional access for first responders

Reduces Traffic
Congestion

during the peak times of the year