Texas Advances Ike Dike Project with New Design Contracts for Gates, Dunes

The Gulf Coast Protection District has granted contracts to two prominent engineering firms to initiate preliminary design work on the long-anticipated “Ike Dike,” representing a critical advancement for Texas’s multibillion-dollar coastal storm-protection initiative.

This week, the district revealed that Jacobs will be responsible for designing the hurricane-protection gates that will extend across the mouth of Galveston Bay. Meanwhile, HDR has been tasked with creating the double dune system and the related beach restoration efforts. Officials indicated that no dollar amounts have been established, and the work will move forward under “specific task orders” as the project progresses.

The Coastal Texas Project, commonly referred to as the “Ike Dike,” has been under development since Hurricane Ike severely impacted the upper Texas coast in 2008. The storm generated a surge of 15 to 20 feet across Bolivar Peninsula, prompting extensive research and strategic planning to protect Galveston Island, Bolivar Peninsula, and the Houston Ship Channel from future catastrophic storms.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, alongside the Texas General Land Office, has dedicated over 10 years to examining a proposal for an intricate system of navigable surge gates that remain open during typical conditions and close before significant storms. The Texas Legislature has allocated $950 million for the Gulf Coast Protection District; however, district officials have yet to clarify the portion of that funding designated for barrier design.

The project's cost has increased considerably. In 2022, Congress and President Joe Biden endorsed the concept, with an initial estimate of nearly $35 billion. In 2023, the Army Corps issued a warning that the ultimate cost might soar to $57 billion, driven by inflation and increasing material costs. The federal government has currently allocated only $500,000 for a small segment of the initiative, significantly below its anticipated $21 billion contribution.

Despite securing funding, the Corps anticipates that the design and engineering phase will take 2 to 5 years, followed by a construction period of 10 to 15 years. “This represents a modest advancement in a much larger, lengthy, and costly journey, yet it is indeed progress,” stated Bob Stokes, president of the Galveston Bay Foundation, which is overseeing environmental effects as the design work continues.

Proponents contend that the initiative is vital for safeguarding densely populated industrial areas, coastal neighborhoods, and key ports, which are expected to face more severe storms due to climate change. “The impact of hurricanes is well-documented, and the price of doing nothing far exceeds the price of implementing protective measures,” stated the district spokesperson.

Environmental groups, however, express ongoing concerns that the barrier may interfere with tidal flow, degrade habitat, and threaten birds, fish, turtles, and other species that rely on the bay’s ecosystem.