Galveston’s Wharves Board approved Pier 15 dredging for the Battleship Texas’ move; the foundation agreed to repay slightly over $434,000. The foundation plans to start in November, pending contract approval, before Pelican Island’s spoil site closes for December maintenance.
The board’s motion authorizes payment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the work, while the foundation will contract directly with the dredging contractor. Port executive Brett Milutin said it would be the Corps’ third and final channel dredging operation this year, authorized under Section 217 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996; material will be placed at the designated federal site on Pelican Island.
The foundation is also awaiting Corps approval to begin building the ship’s mooring infrastructure at Pier 15. The restoration project costs around $75 million, most of it provided by Texas taxpayers.
