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Lake Havasu City outlines timeline, partners and $35.5 million state appropriation for second bridge
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Summary
City staff said a feasibility study completed in June 2024 started work on design and environmental review; the city has contracts with NV5 and Ames Construction, has submitted materials to the U.S. Coast Guard, and aims to begin construction in 2027 if partner agreements are finalized.
City staff provided a detailed update on the planned second bridge into Lake Havasu City during the Sept. 12 Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager, saying a feasibility study completed in June 2024 triggered design and contracting work. “By December of last year, we were at 20% design,” a city staff member identified as Justin said, adding the city later contracted a construction manager at‑risk (CMAR), Ames Construction, and a bridge design team, NV5. He said the city reached 30% design this week and has engaged environmental consultants. Justin said the state budget included a direct appropriation of $35.5 million for the bridge and credited Representative Jake Biasucci, former Senator Birrelli and Representative Gillette for securing the funds. “If everything goes well… we’re hoping to start construction in, say, 2027,” Justin said, but he emphasized outstanding land‑use and permitting steps with Arizona State Parks, state trust land and the U.S. Coast Guard. The city is negotiating right‑of‑way and a memorandum of understanding with Arizona State Parks because the mainland alignment impacts Windsor Lake State Park land; the city also plans to reroute the city’s water and sewer mains into the bridge structure to ease maintenance and reduce future in‑channel utility repairs. Justin said the U.S. Coast Guard review for bridge permitting can take “between 6 and upwards of 18 months,” and the city submitted required materials about a month earlier to start that clock. Mayor Cal Sheehy stressed the project’s multi‑agency nature and noted the city does not own some parcels the bridge intersects. “This is a project that was gifted to us through our state delegation,” Sheehy said, calling the schedule contingent on partner agreements and the contractor’s guaranteed maximum price when the project reaches 60% design. The city said it is exploring ways to reduce span length on the island side to lower cost and expects phase‑1 scope to include the bridge, road connections and intersections.
