Long Beach approves Desmond Bridge contractor

   The Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission on Monday approved a staff recommendation to begin contract talks with a joint venture team for the replacement of the obsolete Gerald Desmond Bridge. 
   The board voted the design-build proposal from Shimmick Construction Co. Inc. of Oakland, Spain’s FCC Construction S.A. and Italian firm Impregilo S.p.A. as the “best value” because it earned the highest technical score from a multi-agency selection committee and submitted the lowest bid of $649.5 million.
   A decision on the final contract is expected in early July, the Port of Long Beach said. Construction is scheduled to begin early next year. The total cost for the project is estimated at about $1 billion, including site preparation, demolition and other work.
   Replacement of the aging bridge is expected to improve traffic flow on a key commuter and freight corridor that runs by the port. The new bridge will also be taller so that new generation container ships can pass underneath to reach back harbor terminals.
   Funding contributions are being made the U.S. Department of Transportation, Port of Long Beach, state of California, and the city of Long Beach.