Flagship Pier repairs cause road closures

GALVESTON, TX Island officials are advising the public that repairs to Galveston's Flagship Pleasure Pier will affect pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Seawall Boulevard for the next month. Work began Tuesday, June 8, as crews began removing the collapsed ramp in preparation for new construction as well as repairs to the property's existing approach. Vehicular lane closures and pedestrian detours will be limited to the intersection of 25th Street & Seawall Blvd.

The public is advised that the far right eastbound traffic lane and parking lane and the sidewalk in front of the property will be closed on and off, during the day, Monday through Friday, for the next 30 days. Pedestrians will be detoured to the north side of Seawall at the 25th Street intersection. Each evening crews will re-open the far right eastbound traffic lane and reinstate pedestrian access. The beach directly beneath the property will remain closed to the public until construction is complete.

The Flagship Hotel is a prominent reminder of the damage inflicted by 2008's Hurricane Ike. Landry's Restaurants Inc. unveiled plans to restore the property to its historic Pleasure Pier prominence in October 2009. Shortly thereafter corporate executives appeared in front of the Galveston City Council seeking a special use permit, the first step towards the property's renovation. Council granted the permit later that December.