The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a $649.5 million contract with a joint venture team headed by Shimmick Construction Co. Inc., FCC Construction S.A. and Impregilo S.p.A. (SFI) for the design and construction of a replacement for the Port of Long Beach’s obsolete and deteriorating Gerald Desmond Bridge. Final design and engineering will begin shortly, and construction of the new bridge is to start in 2013 and is scheduled for completion in 2016. The…