With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge Badly Needs A Revamp. Here's How Residents Can Weigh In On How Best To Do It
Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The historic Vincent Thomas Bridge serves as the main gateway to the Port of Los Angeles. But after 60 years, heavy truck traffic has worn down the bridge’s deck.
Now the bridge needs a makeover and Caltrans wants the public to weigh in on the project’s environmental impact.
Two in-person and virtual meetings are scheduled to receive input on the project's draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). An EIR is a full in-depth study of potential effects a proposed project would have on the environment.
How to participate
The meetings will take place on May 30 at the Wilmington Recreation Center and on June 13 at Peck Park Community Center. All meetings will be offered in English and Spanish.
Sponsored message
What people have already said
The first public hearing happened virtually on May 1 and you can rewatch the video here.
Some community members have already expressed concerns about other road projects nearby and how those would affect traffic along the detour routes. Residents also brought up the Harry Bridges/Alameda Street corridor, which many described as already "in bad shape" and would only deteriorate with more heavy truck traffic. A Caltrans map shows that corridor has scheduled road projects that would conflict with the Vincent Thomas Bridge revamp.
Now that Caltrans has released the draft of their EIR, the public has 90 days to provide feedback — the last day being July 15. Caltrans will be hosting in-person and virtual meetings before the 90 days are over to gather public input.
The backstory
Caltrans announced in 2023 that the deck needs to be replaced and since then, the agency has held public meetings to explain how construction work would affect the daily lives of neighboring communities.
Sponsored message
During construction the bridge would need to be fully or partially closed for at least two years and traffic would be redirected onto side streets.
The communities of San Pedro and Wilmington have raised concerns about added traffic through their neighborhoods, such as wearing down the alternate roads and an increase in pollution.
Changes to construction timeline
The draft EIR reveals that replacing the deck will take longer than previously anticipated depending on the stage of construction.
Originally, a single-phase construction or full closure of the bridge to replace the deck would have taken between nine to 12 months. Now Caltrans says a full closure could take between between one to three years.
Another option has been added that would leave the bridge fully open during the daytime and closed at night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. That phase would take approximately two years.
About the EIR
The EIR is available online and in-person at several locations for people to review. They include:
- Billie Jean King Main Library
- San Pedro Branch Library
- Wilmington Branch Library
- Los Angeles Harbor College Library
- Harbor City - Harbor Gateway Branch Library
- Carson Library
How to comment on the Vincent Thomas Bridge deck replacement project
If you are not able to attend either of the meetings, you can email your comments to or mail them to caltransvtb@virtualeventroom.net or mail them to Jason Roach, Senior Environmental Planner Division of Environmental Planning (Project EA 07-39020) California Department of Transportation, District 7 100 South Main Street, MS 16A Los Angeles, CA 90012. Roach can also be reached at (213) 310- 2653
Following the EIR public comment period, Caltrans will consider 3 options: 1) approve the EIR 2) conduct additional environmental studies or 3) abandon the project altogether.
Sponsored message
Go deeper: Vincent Thomas Bridge Will Get A Makeover And Caltrans Wants Public Input
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
