London Bridge currently provides the only access to the island in Lake Havasu.
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — For decades, there was only one way to and from Lake Havasu Island, but city leaders are ready to change that.
London Bridge was relocated from England to Lake Havasu in the late 1960s as modern traffic outgrew the 19th century crossing.
Fast forward to 2024 and London Bridge feels crowded again.
Lake Havasu City leaders want to build a second bridge across Bridgewater Strait to make it easier to get people from the mainland to the island.
“It was a public priority to have a second access road for emergency vehicles to cross to the island and traffic flow for all of those elements,” Mayor Cal Sheehy said.
The islands of Lake Havasu are growing with new development and traffic is increasing.
“I think it would be frustrating for some people to live there and get stuck in traffic on the weekends, so it might not be a horrible option,” said Lake Havasu City resident Meena Roberts.
It's an option that's been discussed for decades, and the mayor told 12News it's finally time to put the plan into action.
“Hopefully by mid-summer we can put together a plan and begin the process of bidding out contractors to begin construction of the bridge on a three- to five-year timeline,” Sheehy said.
The city already knows where the base of the bridge will stand, but it hasn't yet decided how it will cross the strait or what it will look like.
“Lake Havasu is growing very rapidly. Our infrastructure is outpacing the growth, and this includes transportation issues on and off the island,” City Councilor Michelle Lin told 12News in a statement. Ta. “Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the opportunity to provide additional transportation options on and off the island.”
Residents who spoke to 12News said they would be fine with a second bridge as long as it didn't interfere with the view or cause headaches during construction.
London Bridge will remain operational.
“London Bridge is iconic and a landmark in Lake Havasu City,” Sheehy said. “This bridge is a modern infrastructure with a London Bridge façade that will continue to operate and be a useful bridge for many decades to come.”
The City of Lake Havasu hosted an open house Monday night to get feedback on the project.
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