Texas Seawalls & Bulkheads: Repair or Replace

Many commercial and residential waterfront property owners in Texas are trying to decide whether to repair or replace their seawall or bulkhead.  Several factors go into the decision and it is best to have a marine contractor review your project site in person and go over the options.  If a replacement wall is needed, take a look at the next generation of vinyl seawall technology with the Truline waterfront bulkhead solution.  This vinyl sheet piling system with steel-reinforced concrete fill has been installed and endured major hurricanes in Florida.  

According to a report by U.S. Geological Survey, Texas endured 215 major and 41 catastrophic storms and floods in a 49-year span between 1953 and September 1, 2002, and “many Texas storms represent some of the largest storms in the world”.   Since 2002, Texas has had additional hurricanes and severe weather events, including the Major Hurricane Harvey in 2017.  The report also states that “destructive floods occur somewhere in the State every year”.  Through it all, Texans remain strong and resilient and continue to build for the future.

One of the ways to prepare for the future is to protect assets and property from flooding and erosion.  For an area with the largest storms in the world, Texas needs a versatile and strong land and marine structure solution.  Marine sheet piling or seawalls are commonly installed for infrastructure or shoreline protection.  For example, there are 20-foot Truline walls buried in the ground in the South Padre Island area protecting the foundations of commercial properties and their investments.  Truline sheet pile was chosen for these projects due to cost savings, performance and strength from the steel-reinforced concrete.  In addition, with the firm soil conditions in Texas, Truline could be installed with standard equipment.

Bulkhead construction with Truline has also been installed in other areas of Texas such as Port Isabel, the Corpus Christi areas of Rockport, Key Allegro, Port Aransas and the City by the Sea; and areas between Houston and Dallas including Lufkin and Nacogdoches.  The photo at the top of this article is in Key Allegro, Texas.  For more information about the Truline seawall and dock pile system, visit www.truline.us or ask your local marine contractor for the best.  Other areas with contractors available include Brownsville, Padre Island, Laguna Vista, Lolita, and Port Lavaca.  The most expensive seawall is the one that fails.  Build it right the first time with Truline.”