If you drove into the Port of Long Beach anytime between 1968 and 2020, you probably remember the "bump." That jarring rhythmic thud of tires hitting the metal expansion joints of the old Gerald Desmond Bridge. It was a rite of passage. Honestly, it was also a little terrifying if you looked down and saw the "diaper."
For the uninitiated, the diaper wasn't a joke. It was a massive mesh of nylon and wire slung under the road deck. Why? Because the bridge was literally crumbling. Concrete chunks the size of dinner plates were falling toward the shipping channel and the cars below.
By the time the city finally retired the old girl in October 2020, replacing it with the sleek, cable-stayed Long Beach International Gateway, the Gerald Desmond wasn't just a landmark. It was a liability.
The Bridge That Couldn't Keep Up
The Gerald Desmond Bridge was named after a former Long Beach City Attorney and civic leader who fought like hell to get it built. He died in 1964, just as construction was starting, so he never actually saw the finished product.
When it opened in 1968, it was a marvel. A through-arch design that looked like a sturdy steel rainbow connecting downtown Long Beach to Terminal Island. Back then, cargo ships were tiny compared to the behemoths we see today. The bridge had a vertical clearance of about 155 feet.
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That was plenty in the era of "small" containers.
But then came the "Mega-Ships." Vessels like the Triple-E class started showing up, carrying nearly 20,000 containers. These ships are so tall they would have essentially "beheaded" themselves trying to pass under the old Gerald Desmond. The Port of Long Beach was losing business to other ports simply because its "front door" was too short.
15% of America’s Cargo
You’ve gotta understand the scale here. We aren't just talking about a local commuter bridge. Roughly 15% of all waterborne cargo coming into the United States travels across this specific span.
When the Gerald Desmond started failing, it wasn't just a Long Beach problem. It was a national security and economic problem. If that bridge went down, the supply chain for everything from iPhones to sneakers would have choked.
Why the "Replacement" Took So Long
People always ask why it took nearly a decade to build the new one. The answer is oil.
The bridge sits right on top of the Wilmington Oil Field, which is one of the most prolific fields in the U.S. To plant the massive foundations for the new towers—which go about 190 feet into the ground—engineers had to navigate a literal minefield of old, abandoned oil wells.
Imagine trying to dig a hole and accidentally hitting a pressurized pocket of crude from the 1930s.
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They had to relocate or cap dozens of these wells before they could even start the "real" work. Then there was the seismic issue. This is California, after all. The new bridge had to be designed to survive a "1,000-year" earthquake.
Basically, the bridge is designed to dance.
The main towers are 515 feet tall. They use 32 hydraulic viscous dampers—think of them as giant shock absorbers for a car—that allow the road deck to move up to 30 inches in any direction without snapping.
The End of an Era: Demolition Facts
If you go to the port today, the old Gerald Desmond Bridge is gone. Like, completely vanished.
The demolition was a masterclass in "reverse engineering." They couldn't just blow it up; the debris would have blocked the channel and killed the local economy. Instead, they spent 2022 and 2023 meticulously taking it apart.
- The Main Span: In July 2022, they disconnected the 410-foot center span and lowered it onto a barge in one piece. It took 48 hours of precision work.
- Recycling: They didn't just toss the remains in a landfill. Over 14,000 tons of steel were sent to recyclers.
- The Concrete: 53,000 tons of concrete and asphalt were crushed to be used as road base for future projects.
- The Golden Bolt: They actually saved the "golden bolt" that Gerald Desmond's son installed during the 1968 dedication ceremony. It’s in a box somewhere now, a tiny piece of history.
What it’s Like to Drive the New One
The new Long Beach International Gateway is a totally different beast. It’s the first long-span cable-stayed bridge in California.
First off, it’s high. You’re 205 feet above the water.
The "bump" is gone. It's smooth, six lanes wide, and has actual emergency shoulders—something the old bridge lacked, which meant a single flat tire would cause a five-mile backup on the 710 freeway.
But the real "win" for locals is the Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path.
You can now bike or walk across the bridge. There are three scenic overlooks with transparent glass panels (if you’re brave enough to look down) that give you a view of the entire Los Angeles harbor. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Catalina Island and the Hollywood Sign.
The Technical Specs (For the Nerds)
If you like numbers, the new setup is impressive:
- Tower Height: 515 feet (about 50 stories).
- Total Length: 8,800 feet.
- Main Span: 1,000 feet between the towers.
- Cables: 322 miles of cable if you laid them end-to-end. That's enough to reach Las Vegas from Long Beach.
Actionable Insights for Visitors
If you're planning to check out the area or use the bridge, here’s the "expert" way to do it:
1. Best Time for the Path: Go about an hour before sunset. The way the sun hits the white cables and the LED lights start to glow is incredible for photos. The path is on the south side of the bridge, so you get the ocean views.
2. Avoid the Truck Rush: If you’re just driving over for the view, try to avoid "Peak Truck" hours. Tuesday through Thursday between 10 AM and 2 PM is usually the busiest time for cargo movement.
3. Parking for Walkers: Don’t try to park on the bridge (you can't). There’s a dedicated parking area near the entrance of the Bixby Path on the Long Beach side, near Pier G.
4. Watch the Ships: Use a "Marine Traffic" app while you're at the scenic overlook. You can identify the massive container ships passing 200 feet below your feet and see where they came from—most likely Shanghai or Busan.
The Gerald Desmond Bridge served its purpose for 52 years, but honestly? Long Beach is better off without the "diaper" and the "bump." The new gateway isn't just a road; it’s a sign that the port is finally ready for the 21st century.
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Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the Port of Long Beach website for any maintenance closures on the Bixby Path.
- Pack a windbreaker; at 200 feet up, the wind coming off the Pacific is significantly colder than at sea level.
- Start your walk from the Long Beach side to get the best incline workout and the most dramatic views of the cranes.