The Vincent Thomas Bridge closed Saturday morning and will remain shut down to traffic for 16 months during Caltrans’ $750 million project to replace the bridge deck.
The 60-plus-year-old bridge connecting San Pedro with Terminal Island and the Port of Los Angeles carries an average of about 53,000 vehicles daily, including heavy trucks. Nearly 9% of daily traffic consists of heavy trucks, according to Caltrans.
The bridge structure is sound, but years of heavy traffic and exposure to the marine environment in the port area caused its deck to deteriorate, Caltrans said. Crews will replace the bridge deck, median, railings, fencing and signs. Seismic sensors will be upgraded.
It is expected to reopen in March 2028, about four months before the start of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Port of LA is expected to host six boat events for the Olympics, including men’s and women’s dinghy, skiff, mixed dinghy, and mixed multihull while Belmont Shore will organize the four board events together with men’s and women’s windsurfing and kiteboarding.
Credit: Caltrans
Drivers will be detoured primarily along the 110 and 710 freeways, State Route 103 and Harry Bridges Boulevard. Traffic control officers will be deployed at 18 key intersections as needed to help manage traffic. Police also will expand enforcement of commercial truck restrictions.