“This will help us identify growth potential for the island, potential future traffic patterns based on use, and ingress and egress from the mainland and the island where the bridge will be installed,” said Mayor Kal Sheehy. .

The city’s solicitation lists 22 items that consultants will work on as part of the study. This included a public outreach, a survey of the island’s existing demographics, projections of demographics 20 years from now, cost estimates, potential alternatives, and what a bridge over Bridgewater Strait might look like. including creating 3D modeling to show.

“As a city we’ve been talking about it in relation to the state park area and the Kingsview Condominium where many special events are held, but no one has ever seen it, so modeling is important.” I think it will,” said Mr. City Manager Jess Knudson. “So if you could connect from Highway 95, what would that connection look like?”

The request for eligibility also tasks the consultant with determining whether a second bridge is needed based on demographics, traffic volume, service demand, and other relevant factors. They will also study the impact of the second bridge on recreational activities such as boating on the waterway and special events at nearby Lake Havasu State Park.

After the deadline, Knudson said, the city would have to spend more time reviewing and scoring applications, and would have to negotiate contracts with priority applicants before their contracts were brought to the city council for approval. said there is. Knudson said the deal should be ready for Congress to consider by this summer.

The state has earmarked $200,000 for research this year.

“We look forward to making these proposals public and beginning research to identify what this project means for the City of Lake Havasu,” Knudson said. “Special thanks to Congressman Leo Biacicucci and Senator (Sony) Borrelli for their efforts in getting us to the finish line.”

But Knudson added that it’s a bit unusual for the city to have a budget (in this case, $35.5 million from the state) at this stage in the process.

“This approach differs from the city’s typical project approach of identifying problems, solving problems and identifying solutions, then learning more about costs through the engineering process, developing designs, and budgeting. No,” said Knudson. Said. “Before step one is complete, we are in step five. I don’t even know you’re taking on that project.”

Biacicucci said the money is coming from the Arizona Department of Transportation, which is leading the project, rather than the City of Lake Havasu itself. Biacicucci also said the funds will be available for five years. If this fund is not used within his five years, it will be returned to the State General Fund.

Future research will demonstrate whether a second bridge is necessary, but Havasu City Councilman Nancy Campbell strongly believes it is. When the budget was signed on Friday, she called the $35.5 million paid by the state for the second bridge “great news.”

“We’ve needed it for a long time,” Campbell said. “We believe that eliminating traffic at Mesquite and Swanson Intersections and protecting the integrity of the current bridges will attract better investors, but most importantly will be a safer option in an emergency. All current developments require two access points and have more traffic to and from the island than Foothills, where the demand for a second access is huge.The Island is no exception. .”

Mr Biacicucci said that since being elected, he has made it a priority to raise money to build a second bridge, and he was proud of the promise he made to voters.

“A lot of people said they would never get the funding to make this.^nd It bridges reality,” Biacicucci said. “This matter has been discussed for 10 to 15 years and nothing has come to fruition. Thank you for working with me to finally make this happen for the people of Lake Havasu. I want to thank my teammates, Senator Borrelli and Representative Gillette, for one of my proudest moments as a state representative.”

Although the bridge’s formal design and precise cost estimates have not yet been finalized, Bierschwich said he believes the $35.5 million budget should be “more than enough” for construction.

“The second bridge they’re building in Bullhead City is more than double the distance of this one and costs about $52 million,” Biacicucci said. “We are confident that the allocated funds will cover the costs, or close to it. I hope that is not required, and if it is, it will probably be very minimal.”