Infra Insight Blog

On Wednesday, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the $950 million Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project for one of 10 state project slots available under California’s Design-Build Demonstration Program. 

The CTC’s approval authorizes the Port of Long Beach and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to deliver the project using the best-value design-build method contemplated under the program.  The Port of Long Beach and Caltrans released the request for qualifications (RFQ) for the project’s design-build contract on November 5, 2010.   

"The new bridge will be an iconic structure for Long Beach that modernizes the Port and puts thousands of people to work over the 5-year building period," said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.  It is precisely the right project at the right time for California.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the largest and busiest Ports in the world and functions as a major inter-modal center for cargo movement throughout the Western United States and beyond.  As the first cable-stayed bridge ever built in California, the new Gerald Desmond Bridge will be landmark for the Port and its surrounding communities.

As a top-tier project at one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking port facilities in the world, the Port of Long Beach expects a high level of interest in this project among the major national and global construction and engineering firms.

Points of Interest:

• $950 million project
• Complex construction of the first cable-stayed highway bridge in California
• Final EIR/EA issued in July 2010
• CEQA certified on August 9, 2010
• Project cleared the environmental process on September 23, 2010
• Received design-build authority from the California Transportation Commission on November 3, 2010