How did George Mitchell chase his wife Cynthia on this very causeway? Their daughter Sheridan Mitchell Lorenz remembers a funny story. Cynthia got a speeding ticket on the causeway. George followed trying to tell her to slow down and also got a ticket. This is the George & Cynthia Mitchell Memorial Causeway. It stands as a testament to their contributions to Galveston.
The George & Cynthia Mitchell Memorial Causeway is a set of bridges in Galveston County. It carries traffic over Galveston Bay and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Two routes handle Interstate 45’s southbound and northbound traffic. The original causeway serves rail traffic.
Originally built in 1912, the causeway supported both rail and auto traffic. In 1939, auto traffic moved to new causeways. These were built to the west. The original bridge then served rail traffic. The original route earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Replacement bridge construction started in 2003. The new northbound bridge opened in 2005. Construction of the southbound bridge began in 2006. Hurricane Ike delayed its completion until November 2008.
The causeway was dedicated to George and Cynthia Mitchell on October 25, 2016. This honored their impact on Galveston. George Mitchell was born on Galveston Island. He became a billionaire in oil and gas. His hydraulic fracturing innovations helped him. He married Cynthia in 1943. They had 10 children.
The Texas Legislature approved the new name in 2014. Local groups raised money for the signs. The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce led the fundraising. They raised $17,000 in 36 hours.
In September 2008, Hurricane Ike flooded the causeway. The storm surge was tremendous. The causeway closed due to high water.
The original drawspan was replaced in 1987. A new bascule span pivoted from the island side. The new span lacked space for a roadway. In 2001, the U.S. Coast Guard declared the old span a navigation hazard. It was too narrow. In 2012, the bascule drawbridge was replaced again. A vertical-lift drawbridge allowed a wider channel.
So, as you cross the George & Cynthia Mitchell Memorial Causeway remember their story. Think of their love for Galveston. Consider their lasting legacy.