Queensway Twin Bridges

During the planning and construction phase, the bridge was known as the Magnolia Avenue Bridge{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/17831679/ |title=Magnolia Span Plan Approved |author= |date=10 February 1967 |page=21 |newspaper=Long Beach Independent |access-date=1 January 2017}}{{subscription required}} or Magnolia Bridge.{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/disneywizard/4911091826 |title=1970 map, Shoreline and Pike Amusement Zone streets, Long Beach, CA |author=Dr. Disney Wizard |date=9 August 2010 |website=flickr |access-date=1 January 2017}} The consulting engineering firm headed by Martin A. Nishkian was retained to design the bridge.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/161177088/ |title=Bridge Planned in Harbor Area |author= |date=16 October 1966 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=1 January 2017}}{{subscription required}}

The Bridges were built relatively quickly. The superstructure was prefabricated offsite, shipped and partially assembled before being erected in 14 pieces over only 11 days.{{cite conference |url=http://www.orthotropic-bridge.org/pdffiles/CaliforniaOrthotropicBridgeBusTourOBC2008.pdf |title=The California Orthotropic Steel Bridges 1965–2004 |author=Mangus, Alfred R. |date=23–25 June 2004 |location=Millau|conference=Steelbridge 2004 |access-date=1 January 2017 |pages=53–54}} Murphy Pacific fabricated the complete superstructure in their Richmond, California yard and shipped it to Long Beach in 30 sections via barge.{{cite journal |url=http://www.abarsazeha.com/images/ScinteficResources/Steeltips/SSEC_TIP_98.pdf |title=Early California accelerated steel bridge construction |author=Murphy, Jay P. |date=June 2007 |publisher=Structural Steel Educational Council Technical Information & Product Service |journal=Steel TIPS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725204605/http://www.abarsazeha.com/images/ScinteficResources/Steeltips/SSEC_TIP_98.pdf |archive-date=25 July 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=1 January 2017}} Six segments were erected on the harbor side in late January 1970; the six mirror-image segments were erected on the Long Beach side in early May 1970; finally, the largest and heaviest {{convert|290|ft|adj=on}} long drop-in sections of the main spans were erected on 26 May 1970.

By 1972, the Bridges had taken on their present name.

In April 2010, seismic retrofits were started on ramps leading to the Bridges. The contractor abruptly abandoned work in November 2010,{{cite letter |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/74682-report-on-queensway-bridge-in-long-beach |subject=Find contractor in default: Bridge Seismic Retrofit, Queensway southbound ramps J & K over Harbor Scenic Drive, City of Long Beach (Supervisoral District 4) |recipient=Board of Supervisors, County of Los Angeles |last=Department of Public Works, County of Los Angeles |access-date=1 January 2017 |date=1 March 2011}} with the contractor stating they had not been paid and the County of Los Angeles finding fault in the contractor's work to-date.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-mar-22-la-me-seismic-retrofit-queensway-sl-story.html |title=Seismic retrofit stalled on ramps to Queensway Bay Bridge in Long Beach |author=Lin II, Rong-Gong |date=22 March 2011 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=1 January 2017 }}

Each bridge carries an orthotropic deck atop steel box girders. Each bridge spans a total of {{convert|1200|ft|abbr=on}}, excluding approaches, as a three-span girder bridge, with a {{convert|500|ft|abbr=on}} main span flanked on each side by a {{convert|350|ft|abbr=on}} side span. Including the {{convert|1900|ft|abbr=on|adj=on}} south and {{convert|2300|ft|abbr=on|adj=on}} north approaches, the total length of each bridge is {{convert|5400|ft|abbr=on}}. The deck is coated with an epoxy asphalt wearing surface.{{cite web |url=http://www.chemcosystems.com/epoxy_info.html |title=Epoxy Asphalt: Detailed Information |author= |date=2013 |website=ChemCo Systems |access-date=1 January 2017 }}

The main span includes a central {{convert|290|ft|abbr=on}}, {{convert|617|ST|adj=on}} drop-in section which was lifted in place by the Marine Boss floating crane. The drop-in span is supported on each side by a {{convert|105|ft|abbr=on}} section cantilevered off the pier. The Bridges feature a {{convert|45|ft|abbr=on}} vertical clearance above the average low tide mark and provide three lanes of traffic in each direction with a {{convert|6|ft|abbr=on|adj=on}} wide sidewalk outboard of the traffic lanes. The cost of the bridge was estimated at {{US$|7391632|1967|round=-4}}, with the approach structures costing an additional {{US$|5882761|1967|round=-4}}.

The Bridges subsequently won an AISC Prize Bridge Award in 1971.

File:Under Queensway (31036744252).jpg

The cost of closing the Queensway Bridges is only US $2,500 per day, facilitating filming on weekdays when many other Los Angeles-area locations are difficult to close.{{cite news |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20140106/movies-are-gravy-but-commercials-are-long-beachs-bread-and-butter |title=Movies are gravy, but commercials are Long Beach's bread and butter |author=Grobaty, Tim |date=6 January 2014 |newspaper=Long Beach Press-Telegram |access-date=1 January 2017 |quote=Other features of Long Beach that draw location scouts are the Queensway Bridge and Shoreline Drive.
{{pad|1.0em}}"The bridge is a huge plus," says Logan. "And the thing about the Queensway Bridge is, because it’s mostly used to get to the Queen Mary, it's actually easier to close on weekdays than on weekends. That's a rare and random thing, and it's huge because it's incredibly less expensive to shoot on weekdays than on weekends. It's very difficult to film in Los Angeles on weekdays, and it's infinitely easier to film in Long Beach. The same with Shoreline Drive, which gives a good look for a freeway."
{{pad|1.0em}}The fees for using locations aren’t prohibitive for filmers. Shoreline Drive can be used for $5,000 a day; the Queensway Bridge goes for $2,500. For a more Miamian look, the Appian Way Bridge fee is $1,000 a day.}} The Queensway Twin Bridges have served as the filming locations for numerous television shows and movies, most notably in:

• CSI: Miami (2002–2012): Numerous instances.{{cite news |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/article/ZZ/20080403/NEWS/804039930 |title=Filming in 'Palm' Beach |author=Grobaty, Tim |date=3 April 2008 |newspaper=Long Beach Press-Telegram |access-date=1 January 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/article/ZZ/20100726/NEWS/100729345 |title=Hush-hush TV show keeps its secrets in Long Beach |author=Grobaty, Tim |date=26 July 2010 |newspaper=Long Beach Press-Telegram |access-date=1 January 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/locations/CSI-Miami.shtml |title=CSI: Miami |author=Wayne, Gary |date=2017 |website=Seeing Stars |access-date=1 January 2017}}
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004): The biker, played by Jack Black, throws Ron's dog Baxter off the Queensway Twin Bridges.{{cite web |url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/Anchorman.shtml |title=Anchorman |author=Wayne, Gary |date=2017 |website=Seeing Stars |access-date=1 January 2017}}
• Dexter (2006–13): In the season 2 episode The British Invasion (2007), Lila parks under the bridge and examines Dexter's bag of tools; and in the season 3 episode The Lion Sleeps Tonight (2008), Dexter meets with Miguel Prado under the bridge.{{cite web |url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/Dexter/UnderTheBridge.shtml |title=Under The Bridge |author=Wayne, Gary |date=2017 |website=Seeing Stars |access-date=1 January 2017}}
• Bedtime Stories (2008): A candy truck gets into an accident on the bridge, raining gumballs on Skeeter.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jWR_CQAAQBAJ |title=Location Filming in Long Beach |author=Grobaty, Tim |date=2012 |isbn=978-1-61423-776-1 |access-date=1 January 2017 |publisher=The History Press |location=Charleston, South Carolina }}
• Get Smart (2008): Driving scenes were shot on the bridge.{{cite news |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2007/03/22/filmers-follow-the-signs/ |title=Filmers follow the signs |date=22 March 2007 |newspaper=Long Beach Press Telegram |access-date=2 October 2018}}
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009): The bridge served as a freeway in Shanghai.
• Knight and Day (2010): Roy and June ride a motorcycle across the bridge (with the location transplanted to Spain).{{cite web |url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/KnightAndDay.shtml |title=Knight and Day |author=Wayne, Gary |date=2017 |website=Seeing Stars |access-date=1 January 2017}}
• The Bridge (2013–14): The Queensway Twin Bridges served as the eponymous Bridge of the Americas.{{cite news |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/article/zz/20130702/NEWS/130709631 |title=Showtime's 'Dexter' ends its gory run of Long Beach location shoots |author=Grobaty, Tim |date=2 July 2013 |newspaper=Long Beach Press-Telegram |access-date=1 January 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/beach-527119-long-miami.html |title='Dexter' makes final kill in Long Beach |author=Hewitt, Michael |date=19 September 2013 |newspaper=OC Register |access-date=1 January 2017 }}
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020): An explosion scene for the season 1 episode titled "The Bridge" was filmed on November 6, 2013.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LG9EDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT108 |chapter=The Real Bridge |title=Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season One Declassified |author=Benjamin, Troy |date=2017 |publisher=Marvel Publishing |isbn=978-1-302-50075-7 |access-date=2 October 2018}}
• Rosewood (2015–2017): The Season 1 finale featured a car explosion filmed on the bridge.{{cite news |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/arts-and-entertainment/20160331/find-out-whos-filming-in-long-beach |title=Find out who's filming in Long Beach |author=Grobaty, Tim |date=31 March 2016 |newspaper=Long Beach Press-Telegram |access-date=1 January 2017 }}

• {{Portal-inline|Transport}}
• {{Portal-inline|Engineering}}
• {{Portal-inline|California}}
• {{Portal-inline|Greater Los Angeles}}
• List of crossings of the Los Angeles River

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• {{cite conference |doi=10.1061/40946(248)76 |title=Building Big Using the A. B. C. Techniques for Large Steel Orthotropic Bridges |author1=Huang, Carl |author2=Mangus, Alfred R. |author3=Murphy, Jay |date=16–19 May 2007 |location=Long Beach, California |conference=Structures Congress 2007 |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers}}
• {{cite book |chapter=Design of the Queens Way Bridge |author=Curtis, G.N. |date=1980 |page=A-34 |publisher=James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation |location=Cleveland, Ohio |oclc=45611241 |title=Modern Welded Structures |volume=IV }}
• {{cite journal |title=Prefab steel bridge girders are biggest ever lifted |author= |date=27 August 1970 |journal=Engineering News Record |page=34 }}

Category:Bridges in Los Angeles County, California

Category:Road bridges in California

Category:Buildings and structures in Long Beach, California

Category:Bridges completed in 1970

Category:Los Angeles Harbor Region

Category:Steel bridges in the United States

Category:Box girder bridges in the United States