The Texas Department of Transportation has announced that a major thoroughfare used each day by people living in Jasper and Newton Counties but working in the refining, petrochemical and marine industry will soon be closed for as long as 18 months.
Officials say is the work is necessary to keep the Rainbow Bridge which was opened in 1938 in safe condition and operation. During that time all traffic will be routed by way of the neighboring Veterans Memorial Bridge which opened in 1988.
The Rainbow Bridge which is an icon of Southeast Texas, spanning the Neches River between Jefferson and Orange Counties stands a total of 230 feet above the water, giving ships and other marine vessels a 177 foot clearance as they travel to and from among other stops, the Port of Beaumont.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_59cc79c2-fe6c-11ef-91f4-bbd60e7ece93.html