Long Beach to discuss bridge project

Long Beach to discuss bridge project    The Port of Long Beach is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday on an environmental review of a project to replace the Gerald Desmond Bridge.
   The bridge links two sets of terminals within the ports, as well as providing a connection for drayage trucks between Long Beach and the neighboring Port of Los Angeles. The bridge connects to the Long Beach (710) Freeway, a key corridor for trucked container traffic out of the ports. However, the span is considered to be inadequate for current operations. Its air draft restricts the size of vessels able to transit underneath, limiting access to terminals in Long Beach’s inner harbor. A $1.1 billion replacement bridge would also be wider than the current four-lane span (two lanes in each direction), easing truck congestion.
   The port will accept written comments on the environmental impact report (EIR), sent to Richard Cameron, director of environmental planning, Port of Long Beach, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802, or by e-mail to Cameron@polb.com. Comments are due March 22.
   A project overview is available here.