LOS ANGELES, CA – The Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro is set to fully close for 16 months beginning Nov. 1 as crews move into the major phase of a project to replace the aging bridge deck and modernize several safety components along State Route 47.
The closure is part of a roughly $752.8 million infrastructure project being carried out by the California Department of Transportation, commonly known as Caltrans. The agency says the bridge remains structurally sound, but its deck has deteriorated after more than six decades of heavy traffic and exposure to the marine environment.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge opened in 1963 and provides a critical connection between San Pedro and Terminal Island, including access to the Port of Los Angeles and the surrounding freight network.
Full closure begins Nov. 1
The full closure is expected to last approximately 16 months, with the bridge scheduled to reopen before the 2028 Olympic Games. Caltrans says crews will work around the clock during the full-closure phase in an effort to complete the work within the planned schedule.
The project will replace the entire bridge deck along with seismic sensors, railings, fences and the median barrier. Caltrans says the existing deck has reached the end of its design life and that leaving the deteriorating structure in place would increase the likelihood of localized failures and emergency closures.
The work has already been progressing through a series of overnight and directional closures. Crews have installed or are installing work platforms, under-deck protection and other structural elements needed to carry out the larger reconstruction effort.
According to the Caltrans construction schedule, preliminary construction began earlier in 2026 ahead of the planned full closure.
Drivers will need to use detours
With State Route 47 closed at the bridge, drivers traveling between San Pedro, Terminal Island and surrounding communities will need to rely on designated detour routes.
Caltrans has previously directed traffic through Route 103, Pacific Coast Highway and Interstate 110 during overnight closures. The agency is also implementing a broader traffic management plan as the project moves into the 16-month closure.
The Port of Los Angeles says the detour system will include enhanced traffic control, enforcement personnel and adjusted signal timing intended to help manage traffic around the closure.
The bridge is particularly important because it serves not only local motorists but also workers, commercial vehicles and freight moving through the San Pedro Bay port complex.
The Port has said its terminals are expected to remain open during the construction and that cargo terminal operations, productivity, flow and capacity are not expected to be directly affected by the bridge closure.
Why the bridge deck is being replaced
The Vincent Thomas Bridge has been operating for more than 60 years, and Caltrans says the deck’s deterioration is linked to both heavy traffic loading and environmental exposure associated with its location over the Port of Los Angeles.
The agency also says the bridge’s existing median barrier and railings do not comply with the latest requirements under the federal Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware.
Rather than continuing with localized repairs, Caltrans determined that replacing the entire deck was the preferred approach for addressing the deterioration and preserving the bridge’s long-term operation.
The project is designed to maintain the bridge’s existing basic configuration. Caltrans says the deck will continue to accommodate two travel lanes in each direction and that the project will not increase the bridge’s capacity.
The agency also says a bicycle or pedestrian lane cannot be added as part of the deck replacement because the existing structure does not have sufficient space.
Community meetings planned ahead of closure
As the November closure approaches, Caltrans has been holding community outreach meetings in San Pedro and Wilmington to explain the construction schedule, detours and expected traffic impacts.
The agency scheduled meetings at the Wilmington Recreation Center, Peck Park Community Center in San Pedro and a virtual meeting during October.
Caltrans said the meetings were intended to give residents and businesses an opportunity to review the traffic management plan and ask questions about the project.
The agency has also encouraged motorists to check current traffic conditions before traveling through the area because construction schedules and individual closures can change due to weather or operational conditions.
Long-term plans for the Vincent Thomas Bridge
The deck replacement is separate from a broader effort to examine the future of the bridge.
In July, the Port of Los Angeles and California transportation agencies announced a planning partnership to evaluate longer-term options for replacing or modifying the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
That planning effort is focused on the bridge’s role as a major freight corridor and on potential future improvements to safety, sustainability and cargo movement.
The current deck replacement, however, is focused on preserving the existing bridge rather than replacing the entire structure.
Caltrans expects the bridge to reopen before the 2028 Olympic Games, while the broader long-term planning process will continue separately.
