NEAR SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Construction on a second causeway to South Padre Island isn’t expected for another three years.

The Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority is still working on the plan for an 8-mile bridge that requires federal and state approvals.

Planners said they’re working on meeting all environmental approvals so they can move on to right-of-way acquisitions and design plans.

“(It’s a) very complex project. We’re going over the Laguna Madre, (it’s) very environmentally sensitive,” CCRMA executive director Pete Sepulveda said. “The biggest challenge has been mitigation that’s going to be required on a couple of areas, primarily looking at mitigation for seagrass.”

Sepulveda said the remaining environmental phase will take 12 to 18 months. He said property acquisitions of roadways will take another 12 to 18 months, and the design phase will take an additional 12 to 18 months.

Sepulveda said construction is expected to begin in 2020.

During these steps, planners will also seek funding from state, federal and local sources.