The replacement bridge is designed to last 100 years
The process of lowering the Gerald Desmond Bridge’s centre span has begun, marking the first step toward demolishing a one-time critical traffic link that spurred the Port of Long Beach’s growth over much of the last 50 years.
The 410-ft-long main span was disconnected from the rest of the bridge before being brought down in one piece to be placed onto a massive barge in the water 155 ft below.
The entire operation required a 48-hour closure of the port’s Back Channel, the waterway beneath the bridge.
The Gerald Desmond Bridge closed in early October 2020 when its replacement opened. Full demolition is expected to be concluded by the end of 2023, with no further significant waterway impacts anticipated.
Port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero said: “This moment has been 20 years in the making, from the time we started planning to replace the Gerald Desmond with a taller, wider and safer bridge that would allow the Port of Long Beach to remain competitive for years to come.
“Like its predecessor, the new bridge is a critical link in the global supply chain and Southern California’s regional transportation network.”
The port awarded a contract in July 2021 to Kiewit West Inc. to dismantle and remove the Gerald Desmond Bridge.
Funding for the US$59.9m demolition project is included within the overall US$1.57bn budget to design and build the replacement bridge.
The replacement bridge, designed to last 100 years, is higher and wider with three traffic lanes in each direction and emergency shoulders to improve truck and commuter traffic throughout the harbour.
Its 205-ft clearance over the water will allow large cargo vessels to more easily access the Inner Harbour.
Steven Neal, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners, stated: “The new bridge serves as a symbol of our ongoing commitment to strengthening our infrastructure and maintaining our position as a leader in trans-Pacific trade.”
