Construction on the Vincent Thomas Bridge near the Port of Los Angeles is scheduled to begin next month, but the project will not include the 26-foot bridge that port officials had hoped for.
Port Executive Director Gene Seroka proposed raising the bridge earlier this year in the California Department of Transportation’s existing plans for the emerald green overpass connecting San Pedro to Terminal Island and Long Beach.
Raising bridges would allow larger, more efficient ships to carry cargo and sail under them. Approximately 40 percent of the port’s cargo traffic is on the other side of the 185-foot-tall bridge.
The California Department of Transportation, the cabinet-level agency that oversees Caltrans, rejected the proposal last month, saying deck replacements needed to begin as soon as possible.
“The Vincent Thomas Bridge is scheduled for a much-needed deck reconstruction project… beginning in January 2026 and finishing before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement.
The agency said it “welcomes continued discussions moving forward as we work to ensure the bridge is structurally sound and safe for motorists.”
The bridge restoration plan is expected to cost more than $700 million and will require the bridge to be closed to the public for 16 months. The port’s proposal to raise the bridge would add $1.5 billion in costs and force the bridge to remain closed for more than two years.
The bridge, which is over 60 years old, is a regional symbol and tourist attraction for the surrounding area. It is also an important artery for cargo trucks entering and exiting the port.
Prior to the bridge closure, commuters, tourists, and freight will be forced to cross Harry Bridges Boulevard and Highways 110 and 405 in Wilmington.
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce voted over the summer to support a study on the effects of raising the bridge. Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McCosker, who represents Wilmington, Harbor City and San Pedro, said he supports raising the bridge as long as it is safe and considers the needs of local residents.
Seroka is not giving up on solutions to help accommodate the next generation of cargo vessels at the Port of Los Angeles.
“All parties recognize the job benefits and long-term economic vitality of both California and the state of California that the additional permits will bring,” Seroka said in a statement.
“While we had hoped to be able to incorporate the bridge-raising component into Caltrans’ pending critical maintenance projects, the strong support from the government has encouraged us to quickly consider additional projects,” he said.
Future projects could include raising the bridge once the deck replacement is complete or building a completely new bridge, Seroka said.
The Port Director had originally proposed installing sleeve lifts and platforms on the bridge legs to raise the bridge. The Bayonne Bridge, which connects Staten Island, New York, and Bayonne, New Jersey, was built in a similar manner in 2019.
