Long Beach International Gateway Bridge (formerly Gerald Desmond Bridge)

A landmark for the City of Long Beach and Southern California

Dissing+Weitling, Gerald Desmond Bridge, overview

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.

  • Long Beach, California, North America
    Road Bridges and Tunnels
    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.