Abstract: As one of the important parameters in the design of the bridge, the design current velocity is closely related to the safety of the bridge construction and its safe operation. Usually two kinds of prediction methods including analysis by the measured data and calculation by a mathematical model are used in the engineering practices. In order to ensure the safety of the bridge construction and normal operation， it is necessary to accurately predict the design current velocity. It is an available approach to use the mathematical model to predict possible maximum current velocity in the construction area. Therefore the mathematical model calculating the tidal current in the engineering sea area is developed by use of 2D shallow water equation and wet/dry boundary treatment technique based on the finite volume method, and the model verification is carried out using the measured data. On this basis， taking account of combinations of different working conditions with and without wind and waves, the design current velocity for the bridge construction position in the intertidal zone at different recurrence intervals is calculated and analyzed,which has provided important parameters for the bridge design and physical model tests. The calculated and analyzed results show that the key factors such as wind and waves should be considered in calculating design current velocity for bridge construction because they would cause greater impacts on the flow field in the intertidal zone.