New SH 361 beach access road will help emergency response teams [Video]

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — There are plans for a new beach access road between North Padre Island and Port Aransas.

It is an effort that officials said will benefit the public and especially first responders during emergency situations. The road would be off of State Highway 361, just south of Mustang Island Estates Drive.

Ratna Pottumuthu, Corpus Christi Engineering Services Assistant Director of Project Management, said it will address a need to increase beach accessibility through a long stretch of the highway.

“Right now, there is seven miles of beach that doesn’t have direct access from the State Highway 361,” Pottumuthu said.

A new beach access road would cost $4.4 million and designs began in 2022, according to Pottumuthu. She said that design funds came from Bond 2020 and construction funds are from Bond 2022.

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