Jacobs has been chosen by the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) to provide engineering design services for a coastal storm surge barrier along the Texas Gulf Coast, referred to as “The Gate” or “Bolivar Roads Gate System,” according to a statement from Jacobs.

The gate system is a key component of a large-scale coastal resiliency project, referred to as the Coastal Texas Project, that seeks to protect communities and critical infrastructure from storm surge events in areas around Galveston Bay and Houston Ship Channel. When completed, it is said to be one of the largest gate systems for a storm surge barrier in the world.

The storm surge barrier will span Bolivar Roads, a narrow waterway that connects the Gulf of Mexico with Galveston Bay. According to project partners, it serves as a first line of defense against hurricanes and sea level rise while also allowing vessels to pass through under normal conditions.

Coastal gate systems

Coastal gate systems operate in an open position under normal circumstances but temporarily close during severe weather events to prevent storm surge from entering inland waterways. The East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project in New York City demonstrates how deployable gates and floodwalls can protect urban waterfronts, while the Bolivar Roads Gate System in Texas will apply a similar approach on a much larger scale to safeguard communities, critical infrastructure, and regional ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.

Upon completion, the Bolivar Roads Gate System will protect over six million people and $800 billion in regional assets, while also supporting ongoing operations along the Houston Ship Channel, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes for energy and petrochemical exports.

“This is a generational investment in Texas’ future,” said Eva Wood, Jacobs’ executive vice president. She noted that the company will apply experience gained from other massive surge barrier projects to deliver a system that benefits the Gulf Coast while keeping the Houston Ship Channel open for business.

Project Partners

The Coastal Texas Project is a partnership between the Gulf Coast Protection District, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Texas General Land Office. The program is funded by nearly $1 billion from the state. The project also represents one of the most ambitious efforts for building resiliency along the Gulf Coast.

Jacobs’ work

Jacobs’ work on the program involves designing the construction of advanced sector gates for the purpose of restricting storm surges while keeping the waterways open for navigation.

The overall initiative aims to reduce storm damage, minimize recovery costs, and help preserve jobs related to port activities, industrial facilities, and regional supply chains, while also supporting the preservation of regional ecosystems such as wetlands and oyster reefs.

The Coastal Texas Project, which includes The Gate, received authorization from the United States Congress through the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022). This act serves as a guiding policy on federal participation in the costs of the project, which allows the United States Army Corps of Engineers to work with the Gulf Coast Protection District and the Texas General Land Office to move from the planning phase to the construction phase of the project.

The project follows a phased, multi-component construction plan, with The Gate as one element alongside dunes, seawalls, smaller gates, and large-scale ecosystem projects. Because of this phased approach, project planners have not set a specific start or completion date for the Bolivar Roads Gate System, which highlights the importance of the design selection in moving the project forward.

Once completed, the Bolivar Roads Gate System will feature federal construction and local operation, with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Gulf Coast Protection District sharing specific roles and responsibilities.

Bolivar Roads Gate System – Factsheet

Project:

• Bolivar Roads Gate System (The Gate)

Program:

• Coastal Texas Project

Purpose:

• Protect Galveston Bay, Houston Ship Channel, communities, and ecosystems from storm surge

Authorization:

• U.S. Congress, WRDA 2022

Partners:

• Federal: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• State: Texas General Land Office
• Local: Gulf Coast Protection District

Designer:

• Jacobs (engineering design of advanced sector gates)

Features:

• Gates across Bolivar Roads
• Multi-component system including dunes, seawalls, and ecosystem restoration

Protection:

• 6 million residents
• $800 billion in regional assets
• Houston Ship Channel operations

Funding:

• Nearly $1B state funding
• Phased federal/non-federal cost-share

Status:

• Design underway
• Construction start TBD

Operation:

• Federally built, locally operated