Following Mayor Bob Foster's vision of a green Long Beach, with a improved over-all inferstucture. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has voted unanimously to approve a nearly $1 billion plan to replace the aging Gerald Desmond Bridge with a new, nearly $1 billion span that will improve the look , traffic flow, safety and vessel navigation.To find the final environmental impact report, click here and watch the video below for more information.
“The bridge is obsolete and deteriorating,” said Port Executive Director Richard D. Steinke. “The new bridge will add lanes for improved traffic flow and dedicated safety lanes to keep traffic moving if there’s a breakdown or accident.” The new bridges propsed design should be an exciting addition to the Long Beach landscape and skyline.
The Gerald Desmond Bridge, completed in 1968, is a vital route for cargo, carrying about 15 percent of the nation’s goods. It is also a critical link for commuters, who make up about 75 percent of bridge traffic. The bridge serves as a connection for thousands of vehicles each day between Long Beach and San Pedro, and between Orange County and western Los Angeles County.
The new bridge would have three traffic lanes plus emergency lanes in both directions, making it safer and better able to accommodate cars and trucks on a major Southern California commuting route. The new bridge would be higher to allow for the newest generation of green cargo ships to pass underneath. Again to mention the exciting architecturally interesting earthquack friendly design propsed!
In addition, construction of the new bridge would create up to 4,000 jobs per year for five-to-six years.
