Since Hurricane Ike slammed into the Houston-area in 2008, there have been a roller coaster of talks around building a hurricane protection barrier, something lovingly dubbed 'the Ike Dike.' Well, those talks have amped back up once again, with talks of a $30 billion 'coastal spine,' which would run from Galveston to Corpus Christi.
Its purpose would be two-fold. One side to protect residents, and the other to help keep the supply chain moving in the event of a storm. It has been 15 years this September since Hurricane Ike, so where is the dike?
Galveston County Judge Mark Henry says the wheels can turn every slowly with these federal projects.
"It does not seem like it moves very much, and that is partly because we cannot afford it ourselves, it has to be a federally funded project," he says.
But the problems do not end with having to ask the federal government for $30 billion, there are logistical costs beyond just basic construction.
"Let us pretend for a second we get the $30 billion...and that is an old number...with inflation today, it is likely double that...even if we get that, we do not have the funding for the maintenance and operations of this thing," he says. "And we have not gotten any real solutions or ideas as to how to attack any of those issues."
As far as where the project has progressed, he says a taxable district has been established, but that is where the tracks end. The Army Corps of Engineers has it listed as a priority, but movement will stay slow.
"We were talking recently about how difficult it was to close Rollover Pass in Bolivar...that took 10 years. On a scale of difficulty comparison, if that was a one, then this coastal spine is going to be ten thousand," he says.
But, why do we have to wait on the federal assistance? Can Texas just afford to do it alone? Henry says no, and they should not have to, because this project is of national interest.
"It will mean more reliable supply of car gasoline, jet fuel, and things like that...the state, while it would be a non-federal partner, should not have to foot the bill alone," he says.
The idea for the spine would allow engineers to close gates to stop flood waters from impacting resident, and the Port of Houston, the largest in the nation.
It has been a long ride to get to even this point. So, will we see this project, even in the next 30 years?
"That is the $30 billion question...that I cannot answer," Henry says.