Caltrans has awarded a $534 million contract to global construction and development firm for work to replace the deck on the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the Los Angeles Harbor.
The contract was awarded to Skanska — operating in select markets in the Nordics, Europe and the United States — by the California Department of Transportation for the job, which will fully close the key connector over the Port of Los Angeles for the duration of the work.
The long-anticipated closure period that will be needed to complete the work, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said on Thursday, Feb. 12, is now tentatively estimated to span from November to March 2028.
The project — through a joint venture with California Engineering Contractors — is a modernization effort that is designed to “reinforce the bridge’s role in supporting regional mobility and economic activity for generations to come,” according to a news release from Skanska.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka presented renderings of the proposed renovation and replacement of the Vincent Thomas Bridge during the 11th annual “State of the Port” address at Alta Sea in the Port of Los Angeles on Thursday January 22, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Dominguez Channel dumps in to the East Basin north of the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Vincent Thomas Bridge spans across from Terminal Island to San pedro March 14,2024 (Contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
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Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka presented renderings of the proposed renovation and replacement of the Vincent Thomas Bridge during the 11th annual “State of the Port” address at Alta Sea in the Port of Los Angeles on Thursday January 22, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The total cost of the entire project overseen by Caltrans is estimated at more than $700 million. Of that, $534 million has been allocated to Skanska-CEC Joint Venture for the construction of the deck replacement, according to Caltrans.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge spans the port’s main shipping channel between San Pedro and Terminal Island, and serves as a critical freight and commuter corridor for the Port of Los Angeles and the South Bay region.
The work is needed to replace the aging bridge deck with durable precast, prestressed concrete deck panels, which are engineered for extended service life, improved load capacity, and resilience against harsh marine conditions such as saltwater spray and corrosive coastal winds.
The project scope includes:
Removing and replacing the existing deck.
Installing new expansion joints and corrosion-protection systems.
Integrating real-time structural health monitoring technology.
Using high-performance precast, pre-stressed concrete deck panels designed for heavy freight loads and marine exposure.
Altogether, the three-year project involves a phased deck replacement on the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge. The bridge will be closed for 16 months along a portion of State Route 47, a freight and commuter corridor serving the Port of Los Angeles.
Seroka, during the Thursday harbor commission meeting, said the port is continuing “to get the message out” about the upcoming project. An estimated two-thirds of the cargo moving in and out of the port by truck rely on the bridge route currently, he said, but preparations are being made to minimize any possible delays once the work begins.
Gate cameras and truck reservation systems, along with more than 700 cameras throughout the harbor district, Seroka said, will help address and adjust to any delays. The port is working with the other stakeholders, Seroka said, including unions and shipping companies, to ensure the temporary route transition goes smoothly.
Seroka said he foresees no “degradation in service” and that “cargo will continue to flow.”
Caltrans has detour routes identified as the effort to inform the public of the changes continues to roll out. The bridge is also a main connector for motorists traveling between San Pedro and Long Beach.
“Delivering this critical infrastructure allows us to apply advanced engineering solutions that improve safety for the traveling public, modernize essential bridge components, and help Caltrans maintain a vital economic corridor serving Terminal Island,” said James Bailey, executive vice president of Skanska USA Civil’s West Coast operations.
Skanska and CEC will employ precision demolition, modular deck installation, advanced scheduling and environmental controls to reduce noise and air quality impacts, according to a news release, to “ensure efficient delivery while safeguarding surrounding communities and ecosystems.”
“CEC looks forward to working with our partner Skanska to successfully complete this complex project,” Wahid Tadros, president of California Engineering Contractors Inc., said in a written statement. “The CMGC process allowed the Skanska-CEC Joint Venture to work closely with Caltrans during the pre-construction phase of the project to develop innovations and technical engineering solutions which resulted in a customized project plan that best serves the community while maintaining safety, quality and schedule during every phase of the project.”
Work is scheduled to begin in the spring, according to the release, and is expected to be completed by March 2029, with the bridge reopening to traffic in the first half of 2028. The project, the release also said, “will reinforce the bridge’s role in supporting regional mobility and economic activity for decades to come.”
Information and updated timelines can be found at the Caltrans website.