Bids submitted for US$750 million Gerald Desmond Bridge

The new crossing will be a cable-stayed bridge.

The total cost of the bridge replacement is expected to be US$950 million, including about US$750m for the design-build contract for the new cable-stayed bridge, ramp connectors, and a pedestrian and bicycle path. Nearly US$200 million of the total project cost is allocated for other activities such as utility relocation, demolition of the old bridge, right-of-way acquisition and contract administration.

The bridge replacement, which is designed to ease traffic congestion and improve safety,  is being jointly procured by the Port and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which received proposals from three pre-qualified joint venture design-build teams:

• A JV of Dragados USA, Flatiron West and CC Myers. Other major participants include Figg Bridge Engineers and Jacobs Engineering Group.
• A JV of Shimmick Construction, FCC Construction and Impregilo. Other major participants include Arup North America and Biggs Cardosa Associates.
• A JV of Skanska, Traylor and Massman. Other major participants include Buckland & Taylor and CH2M Hill Engineers.

The submissions follow the release of a request for proposals issued to the pre-qualified teams in September. The Port is expected to enter into the design-build contract for the project by mid-summer. Construction would begin in 2013 and take about five years.

The Port, Caltrans, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and the US Department of Transportation are all contributing funds to the project.

The Gerald Desmond Bridge, which opened in 1968, carries about 15% of all the USA’s imported goods, and was not designed to handle the traffic load that it carries today.

The existing bridge opened in 1968.

The new bridge will have a higher clearance to accommodate the newest generation of efficient cargo ships. It will be wider, adding emergency lanes, to serve the thousands of cars and trucks that travel the route each day. Commuters account for about 75% of the traffic on the Gerald Desmond Bridge.

The existing bridge will remain open until the new structure has been completed. The project is expected to generate 4,000 jobs a year during the five years of construction.

The Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement project is the eighth design-build project authorised by the California Transportation Commission under the landmark state design-build legislation signed in 2009.