LOS ANGELES, CA – Flooding from an overnight storm left at least three cars and a semi-truck stuck in deep water on Alameda Street near Harry Bridges Boulevard in Wilmington on Friday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The Fire Department said it responded to the flooding just before 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, after the storm left the vehicles stranded. The water had developed overnight and into the early morning hours.
Harry Bridges Boulevard is one of the designated detour routes for the full closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which began Nov. 7. Traffic in the area was likely to be heavier because of the closure.
The overnight storm was the first of two Pacific systems forecast to bring several pulses of rain across Southern California from Friday through Sunday.
Vehicles stuck in deep water
At least three cars and a semi-truck were caught in the high water, which almost entirely covered the wheels of at least one vehicle.
According to initial reports, some drivers appeared to remain inside their vehicles while first responders staged on a nearby street and assessed the situation.
By about 9 a.m., crews were still trying, without success, to free the vehicles, according to initial reports.
The Fire Department had not said how many people were in the vehicles, whether anyone was hurt or when the vehicles would be removed.
Harry Bridges Boulevard is a designated detour
Caltrans said in a news release published Nov. 3 that the full closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge would begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, and last 16 months. The release states: “Drivers will be detoured primarily along interstates 710 and 110, State Route 103, and Harry Bridges Boulevard.”
Caltrans had already named the boulevard in an announcement of overnight pavement work on Harry Bridges Boulevard in Wilmington on June 16. The agency said: “Harry Bridges Boulevard is one of several local roads that will receive improvements through the deck replacement project, as they will serve as part of the designated detour route for the 16-month closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.”
A separate Caltrans page on how the detour route was developed describes a strategy to maximize use of the State Highway System and minimize use of local roads.
Caltrans prepared detour roads before closure
The closure is part of the $752.8 million Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project, which will replace the bridge’s entire concrete roadway.
Before the closure began, Caltrans resurfaced and striped detour roads, installed traffic cameras and placed temporary traffic signals, according to the release.
Traffic control officers have been deployed to 18 key intersections in the area, the agency said.
Port says terminals remain open
The Port of Los Angeles says on its page on the bridge deck replacement that all of its terminals remain open, with no expected impact to port operations, cargo terminal productivity, flow or capacity.
The Port says only about 8% of port complex drayage truck traffic uses the Vincent Thomas Bridge. It also says the detour routes include enhanced traffic control, enforcement officers and adjusted signal timing.
The Port says the bridge closed Nov. 7 and lists the same expected reopening date that Caltrans has announced.
Councilmember’s office pushed for road repairs
Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker’s office said it insisted that Caltrans repair roads along the detour routes before the closure and again after the project is complete.
The office also said it worked to keep traffic out of residential neighborhoods.
Bridge expected to reopen March 1, 2028
Caltrans said the bridge is expected to reopen to traffic on March 1, 2028. Harry Bridges Boulevard remains part of the detour for the duration of the closure.
More rain is in the forecast through Sunday, and the closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge remains in effect while the deck replacement continues.
