Vincent Thomas Bridge Closes for 16-Month Rebuild
The $750 million project replaces the bridge deck and upgrades seismic sensors on the more than 60-year-old span.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Home Renovation
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The Vincent Thomas Bridge, which connects San Pedro and Long Beach and carries State Route 47 to Terminal Island, closed over the weekend for a reconstruction project expected to last 16 months. Commuters are facing longer travel times on alternate routes while the work continues.
Why it matters
According to Caltrans, the bridge's concrete roadway is deteriorating and requires large-scale reconstruction. For Los Angeles-area commuters and workers who rely on the crossing to reach Terminal Island and the port terminals, the closure means extended trips for the duration of the project.
The reconstruction carries a $750 million price tag and a planned 16-month closure of the bridge, which is more than 60 years old. Some employees face 20 to 30 minutes of added travel, while one commuter reports an extra 15 to 20 minutes, and the timeline for alternate-route congestion beyond the first days is not yet clear.
The players
Caltrans
The California Department of Transportation is the state agency that oversees the state highway system, including State Route 47 and the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and identified the deteriorating concrete roadway as the reason for the reconstruction.
The details
The project includes replacing the entire bridge deck, modernizing bridge features, and upgrading seismic sensors designed to monitor the structure during earthquakes. Drivers are using alternate routes such as John Gibson Boulevard and the Waterfront Bridge, where traffic backed up on Monday, November 10, 2026.
Timeline
Over the weekend preceding November 10, 2026: The bridge closure began.
Monday, November 10, 2026: Commuters experienced longer travel times on alternate routes.
Next 16 months: The bridge is expected to remain closed for reconstruction.
Roadmap
The closure follows Caltrans' finding that the bridge's concrete roadway is deteriorating, turning an earlier condition assessment into a 16-month, $750 million rebuild. The project pairs deck replacement with upgraded seismic sensors, extending the repair beyond the surface to how the structure is monitored in an earthquake.
Commuters who cross the bridge should build extra time into trips over the next 16 months and check alternate routes before leaving. Workers with regular shifts at Terminal Island terminals may need to adjust start times, since some already face 20 to 30 minutes of added travel.
The takeaway
Plan for longer drives across the Vincent Thomas Bridge corridor through 2027 and watch for route changes as crews work through each phase of the reconstruction.
Further reading
For more on comparable large-scale repair work, see Home Renovation coverage in Los Angeles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC7.
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