68,000 vehicles pass daily over the Gerald Desmond Bridge.
Long Beach’s aging Gerald Desmond Bridge could be demolished and replaced with a new $1.1 billion span under a proposal expected to be announced this week by the port. If approved, it could take up to six years to build the new bridge while trucks and commuter traffic continue to cross the old span. The proposed bridge would have a vertical clearance of 200 feet, about 45 feet taller than the current span. The additional height will allow larger cargo ships and newer, cleaner vessels to pass under the bridge and access port terminals equipped with shoreside electrical power. Large nets were placed beneath the old arch bridge about five years ago to catch chunks of falling concrete that could have landed on workers and nearby businesses.