A large cargo ship passes underneath the Gerald Desmond Bridge, which will be replaced by a new cable-stayed bridge. On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Port and city officials announced that construction of the new bridge’s foundation has begun.
-Staff Writer-
The $1.3-billion Gerald Desmond Bridge-replacement project in the Port of Long Beach has reached a major milestone with the first visible construction underway after delays that held up work by about a year, Port and city officials announced this week.
A total of 350 “piles,” made of concrete and reinforced steel rebar, some of which will reach 175 feet or seven stories underneath the ground, will secure the foundation of a massive, new, cable-stayed bridge that newly appointed Port Chief Executive Officer Jon Slangerup said will last a century and be “the tallest bridge constructed of its kind in the United States.”
During a press conference at the construction site on Wednesday, Oct. 1, Slangerup, who was appointed to his position in July, said the new bridge would have two 515-foot towers, stretching higher than the One World Trade Center in downtown Long Beach.
There will also be a 205-foot distance between the bottom of the bridge and the surface of the water, allowing the world’s largest cargo ships to pass underneath and for terminals to increase productivity and efficiency, he said.
“We’re actually going to start seeing stuff come out of the water, so it’s exciting,” he said, adding that about 50 of the piles have already been completed. “This marks the day that real construction is taking place, and it’s moving on schedule, and it’s moving forward rapidly.”
During the press event, crews from the prime contractor, SFI— a team that consists of Shimmick Construction Co. Inc., FCC Construcción S.A. and Impregilo S.p.A.— were seen working on several piles.
Additionally, Slangerup said the new bridge, which will replace the aging arch-truss Gerald Desmond Bridge that was built in 1968 and is seismically outdated, would become one of Long Beach’s new attractions with paths for bicyclists and pedestrians and special lighting features at night.
“This is going to be one of those places where you’re going to want to walk across to see the views,” Slangerup said. “It’s going to be a beautiful and amazing public attraction.”
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said during the conference that the new structure will not only change the way operations are done at the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles and throughout the region, it will also change Long Beach’s skyline, creating an iconic structure similar to the Queen Mary.
“It will change the way we view Long Beach,” Garcia said. “It will change the way goods are moved throughout this entire community, and that’s something we should all be very, very proud of! Imagine what we’ll be able to do with lighting technology of today during the 4th of July or during those celebrations where we want to be able to light the bridge in colors. That’s the type of technology this bridge will be able to have.”
Port officials noted that the bridge project, which is being built with state, federal and Port funds in collaboration with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Federal Highway Administration, was delayed by several months after having to re-abandon oil wells that were found in the path of construction. Port officials assured that the oil wells have been leak-tested and properly plugged using modern procedures.
