The Vincent Thomas Bridge is set to close for a major repair job, now scheduled to begin on Nov. 7.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s around the same time that the predicted super El Ni\u00f1o weather event could be getting into full swing.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not uncommon to have construction projects delayed by inclement weather \u2014 especially when the work is being done outside.<\/p>\n
But while the weather could pose some issues for the bridge\u2019s deck replacement project, a Caltrans spokesperson said, the work is still expected to be completed and reopened within the slated time schedule.<\/p>\n
Caltrans announced on Friday, Sept. 25, that the start date for the bridge closure had been moved back a week, from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7 (starting at 12:01 a.m. that morning).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe closure is being delayed by six days to allow for final coordination on the Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project,\u201d a press release said, \u201cand to ensure the greatest possible construction production efficiency once the bridge is fully closed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new closure start date, the press release said, would have no impact on construction staging, and the bridge is still targeted to reopen in early March 2028.<\/p>\n
Altogether, the planned Deck Replacement Project.<\/a> being overseen by the California Department of Transportation, is expected to take 16 months. And the project already has required a yearslong planning and preparation process that predates the winter El Ni\u00f1o forecast.<\/p>\n Forecasts anticipate a significantly wetter and stormier winter for the 2026-27 season in Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n With the bridge slated to reopen in time for the Summer Olympics, could the weather impact that deadline?<\/p>\n Nathan Bass, a Caltrans spokesperson, said additional planning is underway to deal with the anticipated weather issues. But \u201crain alone\u201d would not necessarily stop work, he said \u2014 and the bridge\u2019s March 2028 reopening date is not expected to be delayed.<\/p>\n Some weather, however, could cause temporary pauses in the work along the way, Bass said.<\/p>\n \u201cTemporary stoppages,\u201d he said, \u201ccould be triggered by high windspeed, reduced visibility, and other storm conditions that render the worksite unsafe to workers and for the operation of heavy equipment, such as the gantry crane that will be used for this project.\u201d<\/p>\n But, Bass said, no delays are anticipated when it comes to fully reopening the bridge by March 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cThe construction schedule,\u201d he said, \u201caccounts for the likely scenario that hazardous storm conditions may cause brief pauses in construction during the planned 16-month bridge closure.\u201d<\/p>\n Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker\u2019s office is in close contact with Caltrans, meeting regularly with the agency, said Sophie Gilchrist, a spokesperson for the 15th Council District, which includes San Pedro and the Vincent Thomas Bridge.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been advised that rain events alone should not impact the timeline,\u201d Gilchrist said in an email. \u201cWe will defer to Caltrans on how rain or severe weather could affect the specific work activities of their contractors and the construction schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n McOsker and his staff, Gilchrist said, are focused on making sure communities \u201care prepared for both the Vincent Thomas Bridge closure and the possibility of significant rain this winter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe know the 16-month closure will already change traffic patterns throughout the Harbor Area,\u201d she said, \u201cso we are particularly mindful of how a major storm could create additional challenges along detour routes and on streets throughout our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n The council office, she said, is working with Caltrans and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation on those detour routes, making sure needed repairs and repaving along those roadways are completed before work begins.<\/p>\n Preparations for the upcoming rain season, meanwhile, include sending the office\u2019s Clean 15 crews out to clear curbs and gutters of leaves, trash and debris in advance to help keep water moving and reduce the risk of flooding, Gilchrist said.<\/p>\n Aides are also driving through neighborhoods, Gilchrist added, and encouraging residents to report clogged storm drains and other issues. Sandbags and other assistance is also being made available.<\/p>\n Before the deck replacement work launches on Nov. 7, partial and temporary closures<\/a> on the bridge are ongoing, with construction platforms being built, among other preparations. The iconic Vincent-Thomas Bridge is about a mile long and stretches over the Port of Los Angeles\u2019 main shipping channel. It also connects San Pedro to Terminal Island and to Long Beach beyond that.<\/p>\n The bridge rehabilitation project has been developed over two years in coordination with cities, community leaders, ports, shipping companies, labor unions and the contractor, Skanska-CEC Joint Venture.<\/p>\n The Vincent Thomas Bridge has been in service for more than 60 years and although the bridge is structurally sound, Caltrans said, the concrete bridge deck is deteriorating. \u201cConcrete fatigue,\u201d the agency said in a press release, has been caused by increasingly heavy traffic throughout its service life, as well as environmental deterioration from the surrounding marine environment.<\/p>\n The $750 million project will replace the bridge roadway, modernize safety features, and upgrade seismic sensors to preserve the bridge\u2019s functionality and ensure the safety of commuters.<\/p>\n There will be community informational meetings in October. The schedule for those meetings are:<\/p>\n 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Wilmington Recreation Center, 325 N. Neptune Ave., in Wilmington. The meetings will highlight the project\u2019s status and construction schedule.<\/p>\n
\n6-8 p.m.\u00a0 Oct. 8 at Peck Park Community Center, 560 N. Western Ave., in San Pedro.
\n6-8 p.m. Oct. 14, virtual meeting only. To join online, go to zoom.us\/j\/89095512946<\/a>, or call 669-900-6833 or 833-548-0282. The webinar ID is 890 9551 2946.<\/p>\n