Los Angeles is in the middle of an infrastructure wave ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and one of its most recognizable landmarks is about to go off-limits to drivers. The Vincent Thomas Bridge, the green suspension bridge linking San Pedro to Terminal Island and the Port of Los Angeles, is fully closing to traffic starting next week.
The closure was originally set for November 1, but Caltrans pushed it back six days for final coordination and to make construction as efficient as possible once the bridge shuts down.
When does the Vincent Thomas Bridge close?
Caltrans will close State Route 47 across the Vincent Thomas Bridge in both directions at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, November 7. The full shutdown is expected to last about 16 months, with reopening targeted for early March 2028, though weather and operations could shift the schedule.
The closure is part of the $752.8 million Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project, which will replace the entire concrete roadway along with the railings, fences, median barrier, and seismic sensors. Caltrans says the bridge is structurally sound, but more than six decades of heavy traffic and the salty marine environment have worn down its deck since it opened in 1963.
Vincent Thomas Bridge detours
During the full closure, traffic heading to Terminal Island will be routed over the Commodore Schuyler F. Heim Bridge from the north and the Gerald Desmond Bridge on I-710 from the east. Drivers who regularly travel between San Pedro, Terminal Island, and Long Beach should plan extra time, especially during the first weeks of the closure.
For real-time conditions, Caltrans recommends checking Caltrans’ QuickMap app, and project updates are posted on the official Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project website.
