What will happen to the old Gerald Desmond Bridge?
What will happen to the old Gerald Desmond Bridge?
The Gerald Desmond Bridge, which has connected Downtown Long Beach to Terminal Island for more than five decades, is slated to be fully demolished by October 2023, with the main span completely removed months earlier in April 2023, according to Port of Long Beach officials.
Where is the Gerald Desmond Bridge?
Long Beach
Terminal Island
Gerald Desmond Bridge/Location
When did the new Gerald Desmond Bridge open?
October 2020
The new Gerald Desmond Bridge opened in October 2020. Credit: Port of Long Beach.
How tall is the Gerald Desmond Bridge?
The Gerald Desmond Bridge provides 155 feet of vertical clearance above the Back Channel at Port of Long Beach. The new bridge is 205 feet above the channel.
Who built Gerald Desmond Bridge?
Bethlehem Steel
| Gerald Desmond Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Moffatt & Nichol |
| Constructed by | Bethlehem Steel |
| Construction start | October 19, 1965 |
| Construction end | June 1968 |
Is there a toll on the Gerald Desmond Bridge?
The new bridge is over 200 feet tall and nearly 9,000 feet long — and has been tested to withstand earthquakes and hurricane force winds. It’s scheduled to open in mid-October, and there won’t be a toll to cross it.
How much did the Gerald Desmond Bridge cost?
| Gerald Desmond Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Construction start | October 19, 1965 |
| Construction end | June 1968 |
| Construction cost | US$12,700,000 (equivalent to $94,510,000 in 2020) |
| Rebuilt | 1995–2000 |
Can you walk across the new Gerald Desmond Bridge?
The 12-foot-wide route will include clear markings for cyclists on one side, and pedestrians on the other. No motorized vehicles will be allowed, and the law against skateboards on sidewalks will likely apply to this path, according to a bridge project spokesperson.
How long did it take to build the Gerald Desmond Bridge?
After nearly 20 years of planning and seven years under construction, the $1.5 billion Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement connecting Terminal Island with the Long Beach mainland is finally opening.
How much did the Long Beach bridge cost?
The replacement bridge — totaling $1.46 billion — is the largest structure in Long Beach, with two towers standing 515 feet tall, casting a shadow over the original Gerald Desmond Bridge, which served the nation’s second-largest port for 52 years.
Who owns the Gerald Desmond Bridge?
Port of Long Beach
| Gerald Desmond Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Terminal Island and Long Beach, California |
| Named for | Gerald Desmond |
| Owner | Port of Long Beach |
| NBI | 53C0065 |
What does the new bridge have that the old Gerald Desmond Bridge is missing?
The new structure is 205 feet above the water, 50 feet higher than the old bridge to accommodate larger, greener vessels. It’s also wider than the old bridge, with three lanes of traffic in both directions, and will include four safety lanes for potential accidents and access for emergency vehicles.