The Port of Long Beach is scheduled to break ground on
construction of a new, $1 billion bridge next week. The event will officially
mark the start of the largest bridge project in Southern California.
The new structure, which is expected to have towers reaching
500 feet above ground level, is a replacement for the obsolete and
deteriorating Gerald Desmond Bridge. The cable-stayed bridge, which will act as
a connector between the Long Beach and Los Angeles port areas, is expected to
include additional traffic lanes, a higher clearance to accommodate the new
generation of cargo ships, dedicated bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways,
including overlooks 200 feet above the water.
The port says the design-build project could create about
3,000 jobs a year, on average, for three years. The $1 billion in
construction-related spending is expected to generate regional economic
activity of about $2 billion.
The bridge replacement, which is designed to ease traffic
congestion and improve safety, is being jointly procured by the port and the
California Department of Transportation. Caltrans, Los Angeles County Metro and
the US Department of Transportation are among those contributing funds to the
project.
While the contract for the joint venture is about $650
million, the total cost of the overall bridge replacement project is estimated
at about $1 billion, including site preparation, demolition and other
considerations.
Construction is expected to be complete in 2016, according
to the port.
