By CINDY STURLIN
At 88-years-old, Gene Washburn is a retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Little Rock District and Long Island Owners’ Association (LIOA) Bridge Board volunteer extraordinaire. When asked how he’s feeling, he always responds with, “A little bit better than fantastic!”
Washburn studied and sent reports to our U.S. Congress for authorization of Water Way projects. Dawson and Associates (D&A /D.C. lobbying firm) recently wrote a Problem Statement for the Lower Gulf Intracoastal Water Way (GIWW) for funding a 216 feasibility study to investigate issues with the GIWW near Long Island. This problem statement was summarized in a past article. Washburn sent the problem statement to ten prominent people, including USACE in D.C. and Texas, Senator Cornyn’s offices, Representative Vincente Gonzales’ offices, Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), and our local port directors.
We get excited about any response, but following are the responses we have gotten on this problem statement:
• From Alex Meade, Commissioner for TXDOT, “Let me look into it and get back to you.” He and Washburn are in frequent contact now.
• From Eduardo Campirano, Port Director at the Port of Brownsville, “I personally support the funding of a GIWW study.” –
• Steve Bearden, Port Director for the Port Isabel/San Benito Navigation District, responded with an idea of a possible alternate route for our swing bridge with no interruptions to the GIWW.
• Major Roberts, Deputy District Commander, Galveston USACE, stated he has spoken with his staff again, and will ask USACE to consider assigning a project study manager to facilitate a 216 feasibility study.
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