The connection between downtown Long Beach and Terminal Island is a vital part of the country’s trade infrastructure, with 15 percent of the nation’s imported waterborne cargo trucked over it. In addition, it is a critical access route for commuters between the Port of Long Beach, downtown Long Beach and surrounding communities.

Built in the 1960s and in need of replacement, the Gerald Desmond Bridge was not designed to accommodate today’s larger cargo ships or the dramatic increase in trucking traffic with the growth of the Port.

The Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project now spans the Port of Long Beach’s Back Channel with a deck rising 205 feet above the water. The sleek, cable-stayed bridge includes additional traffic lanes, a higher clearance to accommodate larger cargo ships, and a dedicated bicycle path and pedestrian walkway, including scenic overlooks. With two towers reaching 515 feet into the sky, it is the second-tallest cable-stayed bridge in the United States.