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The district charged with overseeing the construction of a massive set of gates across the mouth of Galveston Bay — known as the “Ike Dike” — announced this week that it has approved contracts with two global engineering firms to design the gates and a double set of dunes on either side of them.

Jacobs will design the gates and HDR will design the dunes and beach restoration. No dollar amount has been agreed on for the early design work, which will be done through “specific task orders” to follow, said a spokesperson for the Gulf Coast Protection District.

The idea for the “Ike Dike” goes all the way back to 2008 when Hurricane Ike wrought devastating damag

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