Campus Life

Pelican Island Bridge Updates

May 18, 2024 | by Division of Marketing & Communications

A unified command and joint information center has been established for the Pelican Island Bridge allision response. More information on the bridge condition and oil spill will be available here with regular updates.

Information specific to campus impacts and operations will continue to be distributed regularly and updated here.

Campus updates:

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Update

Campus remains closed through Sunday, May 19, except to essential life and safety personnel. Response agencies have determined that this incident has not compromised the safety of the bridge, and it is expected to reopen to traffic this evening. However, there may be intermittent outages as response concludes.

We encourage all students and employees to follow university instructions as additional information is provided to the public by partner agencies.

Instructions:

  • Campus will resume normal operations on Monday, May 20.
  • On-campus residents may return to campus on Monday, May 20 at 12 p.m.
  • Classes are not impacted, and students should continue to follow instructions from their instructors.

We understand that some of our students have been impacted by severe weather activity over the past 24 hours and that many of you have family and loved ones who may have been impacted. Services have been established to support you. Please contact Student Affairs at 409-740-4561 if you need support.

Previous Updates:

Saturday, 12:40 p.m. Update

The agency response to the Pelican Island Bridge allision continues, and the campus remains closed through Sunday, May 19.

We encourage all students and employees to follow university instructions as the situation evolves and additional information is provided to the public. We have no additional updates at this time.

We understand that some of our students have been impacted by severe weather activity over the past 24 hours and that many of you have family and loved ones who may have been impacted. Services have been established to support you. Please contact Student Affairs at 409-740-4561 if you need support.

Our next communication will be this evening between 7 and 8 p.m.

Friday, 5:50 p.m. Update

The agency response to the Pelican Island Bridge allision continues, and the campus remains closed through Sunday, May 19.

We encourage all students and employees to follow university instructions as the situation evolves and additional information is provided to the public. We have no additional updates at this time.

We understand that some of our students have been impacted by severe weather activity over the past 24 hours and that many of you have family and loved ones who may have been impacted. Services have been established to support you. Please contact Student Affairs at 409-740-4561 if you need support.

Our next communication will be tomorrow, Saturday, May 18, between 12 and 1 p.m.

Friday, 12:30 p.m. Update

The bridge is currently closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic for agency response, and the campus remains closed through Sunday.

We understand that some of our students have been impacted by severe weather activity over the past 24 hours and that many of you have family and loved ones who may have been impacted. Services have been established to support you. Please contact Student Affairs at 409-740-4561 if you need support.

Our next communication will be this evening between 7 and 8 p.m.

Thursday, 7 p.m. Update

The Pelican Island Bridge remains stable and intermittently open to outbound traffic. We expect prolonged vehicle and pedestrian closures tomorrow as agencies continue to respond.

While pedestrian traffic is currently being allowed, the campus remains closed to students and employees except essential life and safety personnel through Sunday, May 19.

No additional information is available at this time.

Details:

  • Classes scheduled for Thursday and Friday will be rescheduled or held remotely at the discretion of the instructor.
  • Research, research activity and graduate-related concerns should be emailed to Dr. Quigg at quigga@tamug.edu and your department head with a return phone number.
  • Employees should continue to use their alternate work location through Friday.
  • Email helpdesk@tamug.edu with your office extension and cell phone number if you would like your office line forwarded to your cell phone or if you need help with Jabber.
  • On-campus mail instructions:
    • If shipped via USPS to the P.O. Box 1981 address, packages will be held at USPS at 601 23rd Street.
    • If shipped via USPS to 1001 Texas Clipper Rd. or 200 Seawolf Parkway, packages will be held at USPS at 5826 Broadway.
    • Amazon orders will need to be updated online to change the delivery address to your current location.
    • All other vendors, including shipments handled by UPS or FedEx, should be contacted directly to arrange alternate delivery methods.

The next communication will be between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, May 17.


Thursday, 12:30 p.m. Update

The Pelican Island Bridge is stable and intermittently open to outbound traffic. While pedestrian traffic is currently being allowed, the campus remains closed to students and employees except essential life and safety personnel through Sunday, May 19.

Details:

  • Classes scheduled for Thursday and Friday will be rescheduled or held remotely at the discretion of the instructor.
  • Research, research activity and graduate-related concerns should be emailed to Dr. Quigg at quigga@tamug.edu and your department head with a return phone number.
  • Employees should continue to use their alternate work location today and tomorrow.
  • Email helpdesk@tamug.edu with your office extension and cell phone number if you would like your office line forwarded to your cell phone or if you need help with Jabber.
  • On-campus mail instructions:
    • If shipped via USPS to the P.O. Box 1981 address, packages will be held at USPS at 601 23rd Street.
    • If shipped via USPS to 1001 Texas Clipper Rd. or 200 Seawolf Parkway, packages will be held at USPS at 5826 Broadway.
    • Amazon orders will need to be updated online to change the delivery address to your current location.
    • All other vendors, including shipments handled by UPS or FedEx, should be contacted directly to arrange alternate delivery methods.

Additional details will be communicated at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, 10 p.m. Update

Given the rapidly changing conditions and uncertainty regarding the outage of the Pelican Island Bridge, the Galveston Campus administration will be relocating all Texas A&M Pelican Island residents, including campus and University Apartments students and employees, from the island through at least Sunday, May 19. Alternate, local and pet-friendly overnight accommodations have been arranged, and transportation will be arranged for those requiring assistance.

Instructions:

  1. Complete the resident form to help us ensure we know you need assistance.
  2. Meet at the Atlantic lobby at 10:30 p.m., regardless of whether you require transportation or have your own vehicle.
  3. Prepare to remain off-campus for an extended period of time.
  4. Bring your pets with you.
  5. Additional questions will be answered when you arrive at the Atlantic lobby.

The May 15, 6:30 p.m. update contains additional details related to campus operations. Further information will be provided on Thursday, May 16.

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Update

TxDot continues to assess the damage to Pelican Island Bridge. Traffic is no longer exiting Pelican Island, and the bridge is closed to all vehicular traffic.

Students and Employees Residing on Pelican Island:

We will experience an extended outage of the bridge through the weekend and are preparing to accommodate students and employees who reside on Pelican Island – on and off campus – who may require accommodations. Please complete this form to ensure we can assist you if necessary.

Pelican Resident Form

Those who remain on campus should prepare now to leave campus should conditions warrant.

Campus Closed, Thursday, May 16 – Sunday, May 19

  • The campus is closed through Sunday, May 19, except for essential life and safety personnel. Essential life and safety personnel include those engaged in lab operations that require campus access. If you are unsure of your status, contact your supervisor or department head. Instructions on how to access campus during this period will be provided by your supervisor.
  • Employees should work at their alternate work location. If you have questions, contact your supervisor.
  • Cadet license testing will resume at a regional testing center. Cadets have received additional details through their university email.
  • Classes scheduled for Thursday and Friday will be rescheduled or held remotely at the discretion of the instructor.
  • Dining services will remain open until 8 p.m. today.

Information is rapidly changing. Prepare now and monitor your university email, text and social media for Sea Aggie Alerts for changing conditions.

Wednesday, 2 p.m. Update

TXDot is currently assessing the Pelican Island Bridge and allowing traffic to exit Pelican Island at this time. The bridge remains closed to all other vehicular traffic.

Instructions:

  • All non-essential employees should leave campus as soon as possible. If you are unsure of your status, contact your supervisor.
  • The campus will be closed for the remainder of today and Thursday, May 16, 2024.
  • Employees should prepare to work at an alternate work location.
  • Cadets currently taking their licensing exam will complete their current section. Licensing exams for the remainder of the week are canceled. Additional information will be provided via university email.
  • Classes scheduled on campus tomorrow will be rescheduled or held remotely at the discretion of the instructor. Please contact your instructor for more information.
  • Students and professional staff living on campus may choose to remain on campus or leave. However, those who reside on campus and leave should be prepared to remain off campus for an unknown period of time.
  • Dining services will be open for campus residents.

The next update will be at 6 p.m.


Wednesday, 12 p.m. Update

Power has been restored to campus. However, the bridge remains out and is closed to all vehicular traffic.

The Galveston Campus Incident Command Team has been established, and we are working with city, county and state officials to determine impacts to campus.

Captain’s Landing is open and available for dining needs.

We will communicate additional information at 2 p.m.


Wednesday, 10 a.m. Update

Electricity on campus is out due to a barge strike on the Pelican Island Bridge. The bridge is closed to all traffic at this time.

Additional updates will be provided as the situation unfolds. The next scheduled update will be at 1200.

Media Contact

Division of Marketing & Communications
marcom@tamug.edu