$35.5 Million for Freedom Bridge Approved (2nd Havasu Island Bridge)

[Amy@Team RDP]

Arizona has approved $35.5 million in the state budget to build a second bridge to the island from Hwy 95. It will be called the Freedom Bridge and would connect an area south of Lake Havasu State Park to the northeastern portion of the Island. The City is still looking at feasibility/impact studies and collecting ideas for models of what the bridge would like - but the state has the money earmarked for Havasu and it's good to spend any time in the next five years. Curious about your thoughts on a second bridge and if you are for it - what would be your vision be for the design or style?

https://kdminer.com/news/2023/may/18/lake-havasu-will-study-second-bridge/

 

[riverroyal]

I think its needed. But don't know if I like it

The island will be FULL of homes. Which doesn't really matter I guess

 

[n2otoofast4u]

$35M won’t get the environmental impact study done, the feasibility study, the endangered grass study, or the assembly of 15 exploratory groups to talk about the project. $100M precon, and $150M to build it.

 

[PlanB]

They have been talking about a second bridge for a long time in that exact spot. I think another bridge is a great idea but I will believe it when it happens.

 

[Amy@Team RDP]

I think its needed. But don't know if I like it

The island will be FULL of homes. Which doesn't really matter I guess

It does get so congested on the weekends and for special events. I am very curious about the style. The London Bridge is so iconic, how could the Freedom Bridge even compete?

 

[Amy@Team RDP]

$35M won’t get the environmental impact study done, the feasibility study, the endangered grass study, or the assembly of 15 exploratory groups to talk about the project. $100M precon, and $150M to build it.

That seems like a reasonable quote to me but according to State Representative Biasiucci - “The second bridge they are building in Bullhead City is more than twice the distance of this bridge, and is costing roughly $52 million,” Biasiucci said. “I am confident that the money allocated will cover the cost, or be very close. Lake Havasu City has already invested in this project by purchasing the land on each side of the island and I’m hopeful they won’t be required to spend any more on the construction. If they do, it will likely be very minimal.”

 

[Amy@Team RDP]

They have been talking about a second bridge for a long time in that exact spot. I think another bridge is a great idea but I will believe it when it happens.

It's like the mystical unicorn! When I first heard the approved funding story, I was like yeah whatever it's another rumor. But then I saw the newspaper and thought no way - it may really happen!

 

[Singleton]

No way 35M covers the cost from the 95 to the island. will cost more just to buy the land required to run that connector.

Is it still needed?
With the Rivirea being built, traffic to the marina has reduced.

 

[Meaney77]

$35M won’t get the environmental impact study done, the feasibility study, the endangered grass study, or the assembly of 15 exploratory groups to talk about the project. $100M precon, and $150M to build it.

This is Lake Havasu City AZ not Havasu Lake, CA!! Does AZ even have a requirment for environmental impact??

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

This is Lake Havasu City AZ not Havasu Lake, CA!! Does AZ even have a requirment for environmental impact??

Environmental impact on a man made lake and island ?

 

[Wedgy]

It does get so congested on the weekends and for special events. I am very curious about the style. The London Bridge is so iconic, how could the Freedom Bridge even compete?

St. Petersburg, Florida has a nice looking bridge. Saw it the ather day and was thinking it looked similar in style, and very impressive

 

[Big B Hova]

Havasu needs a bullet train from Simi Valley.

 

[240Hallett]

St. Petersburg, Florida has a nice looking bridge. Saw it the ather day and was thinking it looked similar in style, and very impressive

Haha are you talking about the Skyway Bridge?? A little overkill but I guess they could do a miniature version of it.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Havasu needs a bullet train from Simi Valley.

Will the bullet train have flatbed cars for boat trailers?

 

[Ziggy]

No way 35M covers the cost from the 95 to the island. will cost more just to buy the land required to run that connector.

Is it still needed?
With the Rivirea being built, traffic to the marina has reduced.

Says they already own the land.
It's less about marina traffic than fulfilling traffic management for all the planned homes & infrastructure out there.

 

[Not So Fast]

Having been here for over 20 years now I remember that they wanted that bridge built in the early 2000's, it would dump out just above the motel across from Chabones with the entrance somewhere by the where the upscale motor homes park on the island at the entrance to the channel. as I remember the cost was around $2,000,000, but obviously it never got built. The builders on the island of all the luxury homes were supposed to pay for a lot of it, never happened either.
Screw it now, dont build it, what for just so they can cram more houses on the island, fuck that!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ziggy]

This is Lake Havasu City AZ not Havasu Lake, CA!! Does AZ even have a requirment for environmental impact??

Impact survey and ground testing killed a big hotel project that was at/near the English Village. Instead it became the new Holiday Inn Express hotel.

 

[Tank]

Havasu needs a bullet train from Simi Valley.

I’d take commercial Air from Santa Barbara and Burbank.

 

[OkHallett270]

Will the bullet train have flatbed cars for boat trailers?

Bullet train will need some special rack storage cars with built in cranes that automatically deploy your boat into the lake!

 

[shueman]

This was proposed some years ago with a hotel development around Site Six as I recall ?

 

[2Driver]

Progress

 

[FreeBird236]

IMHO, from the first house built, there should have been a facility fee on every house and it should have increased by house value and inflation for the second bridge.

 

[Singleton]

Impact survey and ground testing killed a big hotel project that was at/near the English Village. Instead it became the new Holiday Inn Express hotel.

Next to the casino boat pickup, they were supposed to build another Hilton property.
Ground testing showed the ground could not support the hotel, so the second hotel planned (Holiday Inn) was built.
Someone also wanted to build a high end condo complex to replace the English Village and that got killed by the city.

I just want a Marriott property in Havasu. Sick of paying for hotels when not at the Islander. My Marriott points support all other vacation spots except Havasu between November and April,

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

IMHO, from the first house built, there should have been a facility fee on every house and it should have increased by house value and inflation for the second bridge.

Why when the state approved the spend?

What happens when it goes on for a decades without being completed as everything in Havasu does?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Next to the casino boat pickup, they were supposed to build another Hilton property.
Ground testing showed the ground could not support the hotel, so the second hotel planned (Holiday Inn) was built.
Someone also wanted to build a high end condo complex to replace the English Village and that got killed by the city.

I just want a Marriott property in Havasu. Sick of paying for hotels when not at the Islander. My Marriott points support all other vacation spots except Havasu between November and April,

Well you might get a bridge instead

 

[Singleton]

Well you might get a bridge instead

if the bridge stops the casino boat from entering the channel and moves the casino pickup into the state park, I might be OK with that,

 

[mash on it]

If the first one was built by a local outboard/chainsaw manufacturer, maybe the second one should be built by a local off road golf cart manufacturer...

Dan'l

 

[stonehenge]

That seems like a reasonable quote to me but according to State Representative Biasiucci - “The second bridge they are building in Bullhead City is more than twice the distance of this bridge, and is costing roughly $52 million,” Biasiucci said. “I am confident that the money allocated will cover the cost, or be very close. Lake Havasu City has already invested in this project by purchasing the land on each side of the island and I’m hopeful they won’t be required to spend any more on the construction. If they do, it will likely be very minimal.”

Allegedly the bullhead/laughlin bridge will be done by T-day, thats way ahead of schedule, there must be some bonuses for an early completion date.

I don't have a dog in the fight down in havasu, but 35 sounds crazy low for that size project.

 

[Nordie]

Contractors will bid the project, it'll come in around 70 million. They'll ask the feds for more money, it will be re-bid. So bridge construction will begin probably around 2025-2026.

I actually think 70 million would be a little high, but 35 million is a little low.

 

[shintoooo]

They could do it for free and some of you guys would still complain. Just be thankful they're going to be putting up a second bridge FFS!!

 

[rivermobster]

They could do it for free and some of you guys would still complain. Just be thankful they're going to be putting up a second bridge FFS!!

You must be new here!

Welcome to RDP.

 

[havasujeeper]

I understand you are discussing a bridge just to the island in Arizona, but if memory serves me correct, back in the mid to late '90's, Donald Trump wanted to get involved with the casino, and wanted to pay for a bridge from the north section of the city, near where Cheetah Boats were located, and it would extend to Havasu Landing. Millions were spent dealing with environmental issues, and the project was nixed when they found a yellow bellied newt, which is on the endangered list, found on the Arizona side.

After that, there was the feasibility study to come off of Site 6 to the Chalk Cliffs, then an asphalt road to the casino, but the BLM shut down that idea. With the crazy environmentalists these days, any new bridge is just a pipe dream.

 

[Blackmagic94]

they need to kick the casino boat out, and retask the land used for it in the channel for shops or housing.

 

[dread Pirate]

Will the bullet train have flatbed cars for boat trailers?

Imagine all the lost seat cushions.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

LHC needs to build the next thing they can copy from the Brits: the Chunnel.

Don’t don’t go over the channel when you can tunnel under. LHC might be able to get a deal on some used tunneling equipment as well.

Imagine a 4 lane street each way under the channel to the island!

 

[4Waters]

As long as a houseboat can fit under it

 

[Bpracing1127]

This would 500 million project. I would prefer they take that 500 million and put it into the roads highways. A bridge isn’t needed. As someone who comes on and off the island all summer. There is hardly any traffic most days

 

[RVR SWPR]

I understand you are discussing a bridge just to the island in Arizona, but if memory serves me correct, back in the mid to late '90's, Donald Trump wanted to get involved with the casino, and wanted to pay for a bridge from the north section of the city, near where Cheetah Boats were located, and it would extend to Havasu Landing. Millions were spent dealing with environmental issues, and the project was nixed when they found a yellow bellied newt, which is on the endangered list, found on the Arizona side.

After that, there was the feasibility study to come off of Site 6 to the Chalk Cliffs, then an asphalt road to the casino, but the BLM shut down that idea. With the crazy environmentalists these days, any new bridge is just a pipe dream.

I hit the “Like”. Your post is correct info.

 

[Ziggy]

Yr

This would 500 million project. I would prefer they take that 500 million and put it into the roads highways. A bridge isn’t needed. As someone who comes on and off the island all summer. There is hardly any traffic most days

I agree, there are a few days traffic is difficult but otherwise it's fine.

 

[530RL]

This funding is the cart before the horse but might as well start somewhere.


https://kdminer.com/news/2023/may/18/lake-havasu-will-study-second-bridge/

 

[Taboma]

Yr
I agree, there are a few days traffic is difficult but otherwise it's fine.

One problem with a single entrance/egress access road, is with the increasing numbers of homes and vacationers to the island would be in the event of an emergency (Fire or medical) and that road becoming blocked or unpassable for some reason.

 

[Ziggy]

One problem with a single entrance/egress access road, is with the increasing numbers of homes and vacationers to the island would be in the event of an emergency (Fire or medical) and that road becoming blocked or unpassable for some reason.

I didn't take the time to write it in that post but alluded to it in my prior post #15.

 

[Englewood]

A bridge isn’t needed. As someone who comes on and off the island all summer. There is hardly any traffic most days

I am failing to see the need for this bridge? Let's be honest 99% of the time there is not more than a car or 2 on the bridge at the same time.

 

[hallett21]

I am failing to see the need for this bridge? Let's be honest 99% of the time there is not more than a car or 2 on the bridge at the same time.

It’s usually gridlocked on every holiday weekend.

 

[Englewood]

It’s usually gridlocked on every holiday weekend.

Ive never had an issue after launching at the Marina.

 

[Bpracing1127]

It’s usually gridlocked on every holiday weekend.

Not 100% true. Again I am on and off the island almost all summer (beachcomber estates) on Memorial Day sat it gets busy in the morning and afternoon but it moves.

We are talking some congestion 10-15 days a year here.

Most week days it’s empty. Most weekends it’s has some cars but it passable

 

[Singleton]

Not 100% true. Again I am on and off the island almost all summer (beachcomber estates) on Memorial Day sat it gets busy in the morning and afternoon but it moves.

We are talking some congestion 10-15 days a year here.

Most week days it’s empty. Most weekends it’s has some cars but it passable

And with the Riveria Marina, I am not sure this bridge is even needed anymore.
I get the emergency response concern but IMO those that developed the houses on the island should of paid for a bridge

 

[hallett21]

Ive never had an issue after launching at the Marina.

There’s definitely better and worse times during the day. I’ve seen it back up all the way to Albertsons.

From a EMS standpoint I’ve always been shocked that they don’t have a second way onto the island. Other than air or water.

Imagine if there was a gridlock scenario on the bridge and a mass casualty inccident happens at Javelina, Barley Brothers etc.

It would really be bad if it happened at Nautical, Islander or the Marina.

 

[hallett21]

Not 100% true. Again I am on and off the island almost all summer (beachcomber estates) on Memorial Day sat it gets busy in the morning and afternoon but it moves.

We are talking some congestion 10-15 days a year here.

Most week days it’s empty. Most weekends it’s has some cars but it passable

Well if your family needed Fire
, EMS or other care on the island on one of those 10-15 days?

Minutes do count a lot of the time.

 

[JBS]

I cannot see building a second bridge to a man made Island. Talk about Government pork. If it was really that necessary simply close one end of the channel other than tubes to allow the exchange of water. Problem solved.