State, federal funds for Long Beach Gerald Desmond Bridge

THE California Transportation Commission has agreed to fund the US$950 million replacement for the Gerald Desmond Bridge through state highway and transportation bonds worth $500 million and a federal contribution of $300 million.

Port of Long Beach director Richard Steinke said that $100 million had been allocated since 2005, which would take five years to complete, according to American Shipper.

Failure to obtain money from the $1.5 billion US Department of Transportation discretionary fund meant the new bridge delayed further postponed by the refusal of carriers to include provisional funding in their fees.

The port of Long Beach has allocated $114 million, with the addition of Los Angeles County Metro offering $28 million, and is opening to bids from companies to kick-start the construction work with earliest start date of 2012, final design and initial work by early next year.

The replacement of the main bridge will allow for increased traffic and cargo on the wider roadway which already accounts for 15 per cent of cargo from Terminal Island, and most significantly to allow for a higher clearance for next generation mega ships.
(Source:www.schednet.com)