Long Beach OKs bridge plan

Updated Apr 5, 2022

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners this week voted unanimously to approve a nearly $1 billion plan to replace the Gerald Desmond Bridge with a new span designed to improve traffic flow, safety and vessel navigation.

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.