Long Beach International Gateway Bridge (formerly Gerald Desmond Bridge)
A landmark for the City of Long Beach and Southern California
Long Beach International Gateway Bridge (formerly Gerald Desmond Bridge) provides a critical upgrade to a vital hub in the United States’ trade system. The Bridge is expected to become an icon for the City of Long Beach and Southern California.
- Location
- Long Beach, California, North America
- Category
- Road Bridges and Tunnels
- Year
- 2002 - 2020
- Client
- Port of Long Beach
- Collaborators
- HNTB / Parsons / Caltrans
- Size
- 2.6 km
The sleek, cable-stayed bridge will include additional traffic lanes, a higher clearance to accommodate the newest generation of cargo ships, and a dedicated bicycle path and pedestrian walkway, including scenic overlooks.
The new bridge will span the Port of Long Beach’s Back Channel with a deck rising 205 feet above the water.
Cable-stayed bridge
The new bridge is a cable-stayed design, in which cables directly connect from the towers to the road deck – unlike a traditional suspension bridge, which uses cables draped over towers. The entire length of the bridge – main span and approaches – will be 8,800 feet. Much emphasis has been placed on the design of a smooth transition from approaches to main bridge and on a seamless integration of off and on ramps.
Bicycle paths for cyclists
A pedestrian and bicycle path on the south side of the new bridge will connect to downtown Long Beach and offer unique views of the Port.