LONG BEACH, CA — One of the major connections through the Los Angeles-Long Beach harbor complex is about to disappear for more than a year.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge will completely close to traffic beginning Nov. 1 for a massive deck replacement project expected to keep the span shut for 16 months, according to Caltrans.
The $752.8 million project will replace the entire bridge deck along with seismic sensors, railings, fencing and the concrete median barrier. The bridge is expected to reopen in March 2028, ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
For Long Beach, the closure could have consequences well beyond San Pedro.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge carries State Route 47 between San Pedro and Terminal Island and provides a major connection between the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach and the region's freeway network. With the bridge unavailable, Caltrans anticipates traffic using other harbor crossings, including the Commodore Schuyler F. Heim Bridge to the north and the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge and Interstate 710 to the east.
Caltrans cautions that final official detour routes have not yet been determined and could change as traffic conditions evolve during construction.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge opened in 1963 and has now been in service for more than 60 years. While the bridge itself remains structurally sound, Caltrans says its concrete deck is rapidly deteriorating because of age, decades of heavy traffic and exposure to the marine environment.
The deck has reached the end of its design life, and Caltrans says leaving it in place would increase the likelihood of localized failures and more frequent emergency closures.
Caltrans considered several construction strategies before selecting a single-stage plan that requires a complete closure. According to the agency's project FAQ, the approach allows the project to be completed faster and more safely than alternatives that would have kept portions of the bridge open during construction.
Crews are expected to work around the clock during the shutdown, with the 16-month construction estimate based on a 24-hour work schedule. Preparatory work is already underway as Caltrans has conducted overnight closures while crews install working platforms and structural bracing beneath the roadway ahead of the full shutdown.
The shutdown will remove one of the principal routes linking San Pedro with Terminal Island, forcing traffic onto other parts of the harbor transportation network.
Caltrans says anticipated routes include the Heim Bridge from the north and the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge from the east. West Harry Bridges Boulevard, Alameda Street and Henry Ford Avenue could also play roles in moving traffic around the closure.
The agency says its goal is to direct traffic, particularly commercial trucks, away from neighborhood streets and toward the freeway system whenever possible. The Port of Los Angeles says it is working with Caltrans, terminal operators, truckers, residents and other stakeholders to minimize disruption and maintain cargo movement during the project.
Caltrans also plans to use highway signs, additional traffic control and law enforcement at key locations and, if necessary, adjustments to lane configurations and traffic-signal timing. Its Traffic Management Plan can be modified during construction as traffic patterns develop.
With the shutdown less than a month away, Caltrans is holding community meetings to explain the construction schedule, detours and traffic-management plans.
A Wilmington meeting was held Oct. 1. The next Caltrans open house is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Peck Park Community Center, 560 N. Western Ave. in San Pedro.
A virtual meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. Caltrans said recordings of the meetings will also be posted online. More information and construction updates are available on Caltrans' Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project page.
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