CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (AP) The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants a chunk of the old John F. Kennedy Causeway to use for an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

The idea is to take a 600-ft. (128.9 m) section of the old bridge over the Humble Channel, break it up and put it into water 60 to 70 ft. (18.3 to 21.3 m) deep. The reef would become a habitat for fish and attract scuba divers and fishermen.

Paul Hammerschmidt, director of the department’s artificial reef program, said the department is negotiating with a contracting company. The section of bridge would be stored for about two years, until the parks department can plan where and how to place it.

Hammerschmidt said the bridge likely would be sunk about six miles offshore between Port Aransas and Kleburg County.

Vicky Waddy, a spokeswoman for Zachry Construction Corp. of San Antonio, said in a story in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times’ online edition that Zachry’s legal department is checking to see if there are any hidden costs or liabilities.

The parks department is asking for the concrete bridge to be donated because there is no planned use for it. The department expects to spend about $250,000 or more to transport the bridge.

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