LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – California’s newest bridge, which will replace the Gerald Desmond Bridge, opened to traffic on Monday.
The new bridge has two towers rising 205 feet above the water, 50 feet higher than the old bridge to accommodate mega-ships and wider than the Gerald Desmond Bridge, which will eventually be demolished. The bridge is now the second tallest cable-stayed bridge in the country, and each of the 80 cables illuminates the night sky.
TRAFFIC ADVICE: Replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge on Monday (October 5th) Open to traffic. @ CaltransDist7 takes over the operation and maintenance of the new legendary cable-stayed bridge at @portoflongbeach. Please note the new traffic pattern. pic.twitter.com/UChobqo74u
– Caltrans District 7 (@ CaltransDist7) October 5, 2020
The $ 1.47 billion bridge replacement project began in 2013. EarthCam posted a time-lapse video on Twitter showing the careful construction of the new bridge along the Gerald Desmond Bridge.
Today the Gerald Desmond Bridge is officially open to traffic! 🌉 Watch 7 years of construction documenting the iconic bridge replacement project in Moncton, California in this 90-second time-lapse from #EarthCam! @newgdbridge ▶ ️ https://t.co/KoZzv3C6mN pic.twitter.com/MSprKSlf4k
– EarthCam (@EarthCam) October 5, 2020
A ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday included a military flyover and a boat parade.
The bridge will connect the shipyards on Terminal Island to the 710 Freeway and the rest of the nation. The old Gerald Desmond Bridge carried 15% of all container goods to the United States
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