Captain Beard Visuals via Shutterstock / Caltrans
Residents living near the Vincent Thomas Bridge detour routes in San Pedro and surrounding areas can now reserve a free portable air purifier through a new Caltrans program designed to offset air quality impacts during the bridge’s construction work.
The VTB Residential Air Purifier Program will run from July 2026 through June 2027, with a reservation and waitlist cutoff date of May 1, 2027. Eligible households will receive one Medify Air MA-40 portable air purifier — equipped with a True HEPA H13 filtration system — along with three replacement filters, at no cost and subject to availability.
Who qualifies?
Eligibility is limited to residents who live within 750 feet of the official detour and potential alternate routes activated during the bridge closure.
Those routes include:
Pacific Coast Highway: SR-110 to Alameda Street
Anaheim Street: SR-110 to Henry Ford Avenue
Harry Bridges Blvd/Alameda Street to Anaheim Street
Gaffey Street: Between O’Farrell (SR-110 on-ramp to the Vincent Thomas Bridge) and Channel Street
East I Street interchange
Applicants must reside in a residential unit (house, apartment, or condo) and provide proof of address within the eligibility zone. Eligibility is confirmed through an online GIS map tool that cross-references residential addresses against the affected routes. Addresses on or near the boundary will be flagged for manual review.
How do you reserve an air purifier?
Caltrans has mailed postcards to households within the program area. Each postcard includes a unique Address Reference Code required to complete the online reservation.
Residents can check their eligibility and submit a reservation request through the program’s official registration page. Once a reservation is confirmed, residents will receive an email with a pickup location, date, and confirmation number. Proof of residency, such as official mail, a rental agreement, or school or employment documents showing name and current address, must be presented at pickup. If all units are reserved, a waitlist option will remain open.