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Second bridge plan advances: state $35.5 million appropriation, design and CMAR teams under contract
Summary
City staff said design and construction-management contracts are in place for Lake Havasu City's second bridge, state funds of $35.5 million are allocated, and work is proceeding on alignment, rights-of-way and federal reviews; officials estimated a completion in the 2029 timeframe.
Lake Havasu City officials provided an update April 4 on the long-studied second bridge project, saying contracts for design and construction management are in place and state funding has been appropriated.
Mayor Cal Sheehy credited Representative Gillette for securing a state appropriation of $35.5 million from the Arizona general fund. Sheehy said the appropriation has been allocated and the city is moving forward with development.
City Manager Jessica Newton and staff said the city has contracted NV5 as the design team and Ames Construction as the construction-management-at-risk (CMAR) contractor. Newton described the delivery approach as CMAR, which brings the design and construction teams together early to reduce design cost surprises and identify efficiencies before a guaranteed maximum price is set.
Officials said planning work includes adjusting island-side rights of way with the Arizona State Land Department, coordinating with Arizona State Parks on mainland impacts, mapping utilities and designing roadway connections that will accommodate changed traffic patterns when the bridge opens. Staff noted federal permitting — specifically the U.S. Coast Guard review for work in navigable waters — will be required and can take months.
Sheehy said the project timeline has many external dependencies but estimated a completion window around 2029. Officials emphasized the project is more than a bridge span: it requires road network improvements on both the island and mainland sides to handle expected traffic patterns.
City staff said the CMAR process includes an early design phase (c.20% design) followed by negotiations for a guaranteed maximum price before final construction authorization. No construction start date was announced; federal and state permitting remain outstanding steps.
