LAUGHLIN/BULLHEAD CITY -A second Colorado River bridge linking the communities of Bullhead City in Arizona and Laughlin in Nevada should be under construction within three months, if not sooner.
“We’re looking closely at dates for ground breaking and that’s going to be announced soon,” said Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, whose District A includes Laughlin. “More specifically, my expectation is that on site work will begin before the end of November.”
Naft credited former senator Harry Reid of Nevada for securing a federal earmark for nearly $21 million to help fund construction of the four lane, 724′ span. Clark County is chipping in a little more than $27 million and Bullhead City is providing $4.5 million.
A $52,425,000 contract has been awarded to Tempe-based Fisher Sand and Gravel with project completion expected in late 2023. It will provide another river crossing point, along with the Don Laughlin funded bridge that was completed in 1987.
Naft and Bullhead City mayor Tom Brady said having bridges on both ends of the river will provide convenience and access options for everyone. They said the circuitous loop will also improve emergency response times and fuel economic development.
“There’s no doubt that for all stakeholders involved, both on the Arizona side and on the Nevada side, that this is a significant project with significant impact. I think it’s critically important for both the economic success of both sides of the river, but also for public safety on both sides,” Naft said. “We want to make sure that there are transportation options for people connecting back and forth between Bullhead and Laughlin, but also for the visitors who come to our side of the river and the employees who work on the Laughlin side.”
Brady believes the bridge will spark additional development at the nearby “Target shopping center.”
“To the west of there, we’ve got a good-sized piece of property that’s ripe for development. We’ve had some developers talking about going in there and buying that property,” Brady said. “And then, to the west of that, we’ve got the Bullhead City Nature Center. That won’t be developed. That will be a Nature Center for the public to use for decades to come.”
Brady said a half mile stretch along the river west of the Fieldhouse was previously graded out for possible development of luxury homes. “I just wait for the day that becomes a reality,” he said.
Clark County Public Information Officer Dan Kulin said the contractor must comply with a U.S. Coast Guard issued permit which requires delineation of areas of the river that are open and those that are closed to waterway traffic during construction. He said other provisions will result in provision of restriction information to river users.
“The contractor will provide signage on the river to direct traffic around work areas,” Kulin said. “Cofferdams will be constructed around the work areas in the water to prevent the public from entering, as well as allow construction to occur in the water.”
Kulin said the bridge that will include 4 lanes and a 10′ multi-use path won’t be fully used when it opens to traffic. “Only 2 lanes plus the multi-way path will be used at first because the road connecting to both sides of the bridge will only be two lanes,” Kulin said.
While the two bridges will serve purpose for the motoring public, locals and tourists alike will enjoy the same kind of circuitous loop for pedestrians and bicycles when the Arizona side of the Heritage Trail is completed between the Laughlin Bridge and Davis Dam on the Arizona side of the river. The trail was completed on the Nevada side in 2012.
“That’s going to be another wonderful addition to our community,” Brady said.
Naft said he wants Laughlin area residents to know that his south Clark County liaison Mark Moskowitz serves as his intermediary for constituent service and works from an office at the Laughlin Regional Government Center, 101 Civic Way.
“It’s a continuation of all the work that we’ve done to try and really prioritize all that is happening in the south county,” Naft said. “Laughlin has always been a significant part of my outreach plan.”
Moskowitz can be contacted by telephone at 702-298-0828.
Dave Hawkins
