Journal · 9 November 2026 · 1 min read

Vincent Thomas Bridge near LA/Long Beach ports closed for 16 months

As of Saturday, November 7, 2026, the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro is closed to traffic in both directions — and will stay that way for a while: Caltrans announced a 16-month closure, with reopening not expected until early March 2028. The bridge is structurally sound, but its concrete deck is deteriorating from heavy truck traffic and the marine environment. The project will replace the deck and upgrade seismic safety systems; the price tag is $750 million.

The bridge carried an average of 53,000 vehicles a day, about 9% of them heavy trucks serving the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex. Detours will run via Interstates 710 and 110, State Route 103, and Harry Bridges Boulevard, with traffic control officers posted at 18 key intersections. Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said the priority is "keeping cargo moving throughout the port complex."

Per the Port of Los Angeles, the bridge carries about 8% of the port complex's container drayage traffic — a modest share of the overall flow, but enough that terminals are extending gate hours in advance. Forwarders working drayage out of these terminals should check with their carrier which routes previously crossed the bridge and how much longer the detour will take — especially since the closure will run well over a year.

Source: Caltrans (California Department of Transportation), October 22, 2026 — https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-7/district-7-projects/d7vtbmarch26openhouse/VTB-Full-Closure-Announcement-102226