What once was a milestone is now a land mark and a great place to land fish. The Copano Bay State Fishing Pier was once a Copano Causeway bridge, linking the live oak & Lamar peninsulas. Before the Copano Causeway was built the only way people could travel from one peninsula to the other was by boat. To span the waters of Copano and Aransas Bays with a bridge was a mighty feat in dead. 

Authorization for the bridge was given in the late 1920's by the state highway and public transportation offices. Bids were let and the contract was awarded to Southwest L. E. Meyers Co. in February 1930. 

Work on the timber causeway was completed in early 1931. Just a little more than 2 years before the completion of state highway 35. The highway (35) was begun in the mid 1920's and finished in May 1933.

The 1 1/2 mile long Copano Causeway was hailed as a milestone for tiny Aransas County. It was constructed of timber spans which supported 6 inch thick concrete. The bridge was measured 20 feet across, enough for 2 lanes of traffic. There was a 39 foot 3 inch entrance for boats and the center span of the causeway was a draw bridge. The total Length of the causeway was 8,955 feet needed. 

Austin Bridge Company was the successful bidder for the present day the LBJ causeway. Which towers along side the Copano Causeway. The $2.5 million project began in February 1964.

 

Crews spent 470 of a possible 550 days working on the bridge between February 1964 and October 1966. On the "off " days they were unable to work because of high winds & rains.

 

The new causeway was completed and opened October 20th 1966, the structure was dedicated to President Lyndon B Johnson.

 

It was estimated that traffic over the new causeway was 3,850 vehicles per day at the time the structure opened. That number had nearly tripled by 1981.

 

The LBJ Causeway is 9,230 feet long, 26 feet wide, and has a 75 foot horizontal clearance. It is constructed of 18 inch square pilings made of pre-stressed concrete.

 

The question was what to do with the historic first causeway. Ownership that structure was transferred to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and it was to be converted into 2  fishing piers with the drawbridge removed from the middle of the 2 halves. 

 

Today the old Copano Causeway fishing pier still is a popular fishing spot for residents and visitors. The pier is lighted and attracts fish for nigh time angling. Bait and fishing tackle are available at concession stands at each end of the pier.