 (2).png)
1 month ago
28
PORT ISABEL, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Tuesday's SpaceX launch caused chaos on the Queen Isabella Causeway due to traffic being backed up on South Padre Island and Port Isabel.
Some people described the traffic on South Padre Island and Port Isabel, before and after the launch as a nightmare.
Spectators say it was hard to find parking and traffic was bumper to bumper.
Officials said that little can be done to alleviate traffic due to the Causeway being the only way to and from SPI.
It usually takes about nine minutes to travel from Isla Blanca Park to Port Isabel, but due to the traffic, it took hours to cross the Causeway.
“It was just probably the longest amount of time I've seen to get out of that place; especially, when other people have said that they've been there for the launch," said David Sakulenzki, McAllen resident.
Javed Rehman, from Houston, says he almost missed his flight because of the traffic. Port Isabel resident Aurora Gonzalez says some of her coworkers were late to work because of the congested roadways.
“One of them lives next to the high school, and she said from her house to work at three o'clock was a 40-minute drive," Gonzalez said. "And, everybody knows the high school is like, what, like, 10 minutes down the road.”
Both the City of South Padre Island and Port Isabel said they did everything possible to alleviate the traffic.
Port Isabel City Manager Jared Hockema says the delays seen on Tuesday are very common with SpaceX launches.
He says people should have a plan to stay and wait out the traffic.
“Elon Musk has not found the way to violate the laws of physics yet, and so only a certain amount of people can go through a certain place at the same time," Hockema said. "Make plans to stay and have dinner or at the beach go look at the water and do something. If you want to leave at the same time, then yeah it is going to be difficult to get through.”
Hockema also says they had police officers in every traffic light helping direct traffic.
English (US)