Thousands Could Get Free Air Purifiers Ahead Of Vincent Thomas Bridge Closure

LONG BEACH, CA — Residents living near detour routes for the upcoming Vincent Thomas Bridge closure could get a free air purifier from Caltrans as the agency prepares to divert traffic through surrounding neighborhoods for more than a year.

Caltrans launched its Vincent Thomas Bridge Residential Air Purifier Program to help reduce potential air quality impacts on homes near streets expected to carry additional traffic during the massive bridge deck replacement project.

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Eligible households can receive one Medify Air MA-40 portable air purifier equipped with a True HEPA H13 filter, along with three replacement filters, at no cost and subject to availability.

The program comes ahead of the planned full closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge beginning Nov. 1. The closure is expected to last approximately 16 months while crews replace the aging bridge deck, forcing motorists who normally use the key connection between San Pedro and Terminal Island onto alternate routes.

To qualify for an air purifier, residents must live within 750 feet of an official detour or potential alternate route identified by Caltrans.

Those routes include Pacific Coast Highway between the 110 Freeway and Alameda Street; Anaheim Street between the 110 and Henry Ford Avenue; Harry Bridges Boulevard and Alameda Street to Anaheim Street; Gaffey Street between O'Farrell Street and Channel Street; and the East I Street interchange.

The program is open to residents of houses, apartments and condos within the eligibility area.

Caltrans has begun mailing postcards to potentially eligible households containing a unique Address Reference Code needed to make an online reservation. Receiving a postcard does not automatically guarantee eligibility, according to the agency.

Residents can also use Caltrans' online eligibility map to determine whether their address falls within the program area. Addresses near the boundary may be flagged for manual review.

Once a reservation is confirmed, residents will receive an email providing a pickup date, location and confirmation number. They must show proof of residency when collecting the purifier.

Acceptable documents include official mail, a rental agreement or school or employment documents displaying the resident's name and current address.

The program is scheduled to continue through June 2027, although the deadline to reserve a purifier or join the waitlist is May 1, 2027. If all available units have already been reserved, eligible residents can join the waitlist.

The air purifier initiative is one of the measures Caltrans is implementing to mitigate impacts from the Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project, a major undertaking to replace the bridge's deteriorating roadway deck.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge carries State Route 47 across Los Angeles Harbor, linking San Pedro with Terminal Island and serving as a major route for commuters and port traffic.