Construction work for the $700 million upgrade to the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles will commence in January 2026. The work will require the bridge to be closed for 16 months while the existing deck is replaced. The project is due for completion before the 2028 Olympics. The bridge carries the Seaside Freeway, linking San Pedro with Terminal Island and Long Beach.
However, the proposal to raise the deck of the bridge by 8m will not go ahead. This was considered too expensive at $1.5 billion and would also have caused further traffic disruption with a necessary two-year closure. The bridge provides a clearance of 56m for vessels entering the Port of Los Angeles.
The project is being managed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Completed in 1963, the bridge is said to be sound structurally but its deck needs to be replaced. A combination of heavy traffic and the marine environment has resulted in the deck needing replacement.
