Bridges & Highways

The Gerald Desmond Bridge has the highest vertical clearance of all cable-stayed bridges in the
United States (US) and accounts for 15% of waterborne cargo movement in US.  The higher clearance accommodates the newest generation of efficient cargo ships and is the 2nd tallest cable-stayed design in the US.

Group Delta, an NV5 Company, performed site-specific non-linear time history seismic analysis for the main span structure, served as Environmental compliance manager, performed contaminant plume modeling and analysis, during construction phase, served as Geotechnical Engineer of Record and reviewed seismic and foundation reports.

Our team provided environmental services for the bridge replacement project. The project included installation of six groundwater monitoring wells set in the unconfined aquifer and three set in a confined aquifer for the environmental issues associated with the construction operation for the new Gerald Desmond Bridge in Long Beach, California. Both hollow-stem and rotary wash drilling methods were utilized in the installation of the piezometers.

Our team also led the installation, setup and recording of 25 vibrating wire piezometers (13 in the unconfined aquifer and 12 in the confined aquifer) also using hollow-stem and mud rotary drilling methods.

Added Value

• Seismic and Geotechnical Engineering Leadership: Our team conducted site-specific nonlinear time history seismic analysis for the main span and served as Geotechnical Engineer of Record, reviewing seismic and foundation reports to ensure structural resilience.
• Comprehensive Environmental Oversight: Our team acted as Environmental Compliance Manager and led contaminant plume modeling, groundwater monitoring well installation, and piezometer setup to manage environmental risks during construction.
• Innovative Monitoring and Drilling Solutions: Our team installed and recorded data from 25 vibrating wire piezometers across confined and unconfined aquifers using advanced hollow-stem and rotary drilling methods to support environmental and geotechnical monitoring.