Vincent Thomas Bridge Closure: What It Means for Port Shipments

Ports & Freight

11-07-2026

The Vincent Thomas Bridge, which carries State Route 47 between San Pedro and Terminal Island, closed in both directions at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, for roughly 16 months while Caltrans replaces the deck. Reopening is targeted for early March 2028. The Port of Los Angeles says all terminals stay open and rail is not affected, but about 8% of port-complex drayage trucks used the bridge and now have to detour. For ecommerce brands importing through Los Angeles and Long Beach, the practical effect is less predictable container pickup timing, not a shutdown.

What Is Happening to the Vincent Thomas Bridge?

Caltrans District 7 is running a $753 million project to replace the entire bridge deck and its seismic sensors and to modernize other parts of the structure. The Port of Los Angeles describes the work as necessary to preserve the deck's structural integrity and improve safety. Because the deck itself is being replaced, the bridge cannot stay open to traffic during construction.

Closure start: 12:01 a.m., Saturday, November 7, 2026 (both directions of SR-47 across the bridge)
Expected length: about 16 months
Target reopening: early March 2028, subject to weather and construction conditions
Project cost: $753 million, led by Caltrans
Harbor navigation: the shipping channel under the bridge is expected to stay open, with protective shielding over the work zone

Will the Closure Slow Down Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach?

Officially, no. The Port of Los Angeles states that all of its terminals remain open and that it expects no impact on terminal productivity, cargo flow or capacity. Maersk's November 4 advisory says the same for both ports, and adds that rail connectivity on-dock, near-dock and inland should not be affected.

The catch is on the landside. Roughly 8% of drayage truck traffic in the port complex crossed the Vincent Thomas Bridge. Those trips now take longer routes through Wilmington or Long Beach, and the extra traffic lands on corridors that were already busy. Maersk warns this can mean lower driver productivity, missed terminal appointments and added accessorial charges, especially around gate openings, commute hours and shift changes. Maersk's November 6 market update also lists Los Angeles among the markets where drayage capacity is already tight. Neither source gives a number of minutes added per trip, so treat any specific delay estimate you see elsewhere with caution.

Which Detour Routes Are Trucks Using?

Maersk's advisory lists the designated commercial vehicle detours:

Terminal Island to and from Long Beach and I-710: the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge, then I-710
Terminal Island to and from Wilmington and points north: the Commodore Schuyler F. Heim Bridge via SR-47 and SR-103
San Pedro to and from Terminal Island: a signed route via Front Street and John S. Gibson Boulevard, then I-110 and the Wilmington corridor (Harry Bridges Boulevard and Henry Ford Avenue) to SR-47 and SR-103

Caltrans plans traffic control officers, stepped-up commercial vehicle enforcement, adjusted signal timing and cameras along the detours. Posted signs take priority over any published route.

Which Terminals Feel It Most?

Terminal Island facilities that drivers used to reach from San Pedro are the most exposed. Maersk specifically names APM Terminals Pier 400 in Los Angeles, which stays open, but warns that trucks and staff now must approach through Wilmington or Long Beach, making arrival times longer and harder to predict. If your containers discharge at a Terminal Island terminal and your drayage carrier is based on the San Pedro side, ask how they are adjusting dispatch.

What Should Ecommerce Brands Importing Through LA Do Now?

This is a long closure, so the goal is to build the extra variability into your normal planning rather than react to it shipment by shipment.

Add buffer to inbound dates. Pad container pickup and warehouse receiving dates by a day, especially for inventory tied to a promotion or holiday launch.
Watch free time closely. A missed appointment can push a pickup past the last free day. Track demurrage and detention exposure on every container instead of assuming the usual turn time.
Confirm appointments before dispatch. Ask your drayage provider to verify terminal appointment availability, cutoffs and gate hours before sending a driver.
Expect some accessorial changes. Ask your trucker now whether they plan to adjust pricing, waiting time or chassis charges for detoured moves so you are not surprised on the invoice.
Keep safety stock on fast movers. If a container slips a day, enough on-hand inventory keeps your listings in stock and your marketplace metrics healthy.

The timing matters. The closure starts in the middle of holiday shipping season, when inbound replenishment is tight and carrier cutoffs are fixed. Brands that ship direct-to-consumer from Southern California should line up inbound shipments early enough that a slower drayage leg does not cost them sales. Our DTC fulfillment page explains how inbound receiving connects to same-day outbound shipping.

Is the Port Watchmen Strike Connected to the Bridge Closure?

No, they are separate issues that happen to overlap. As of FreightWaves' November 5 report, the Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26, which represents about 250 port watchmen, had extended their contract through midnight Pacific on Friday, November 6, with federal mediators involved. We had not confirmed the outcome of that deadline at the time of writing. If a walkout happens and other ILWU members honor picket lines, terminal gates could be disrupted on top of the bridge detours, so check your drayage provider's updates daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Vincent Thomas Bridge reopen?

The target is early March 2028, about 16 months after the November 7, 2026 closure. Caltrans says dates depend on weather and construction conditions.

Are the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach still open?

Yes. All terminals remain open and vessels can still pass under the bridge. The Port of Los Angeles expects no change to terminal capacity or rail cargo.

Will my container deliveries from the port be delayed?

Some may take longer. About 8% of drayage trucks used the bridge, and those trips now detour through Wilmington or Long Beach. Expect more variability in pickup and delivery times, particularly at Terminal Island terminals.

Will drayage costs go up because of the closure?

Possibly. Maersk warns of added accessorial costs from longer routes and missed appointments. No official rate increase has been announced, so ask your trucking provider directly about their plans.

How 3PL City Helps

3PL City runs a Los Angeles fulfillment warehouse in Gardena, CA, about 10 miles from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Orders placed by 2 PM Pacific ship the same day, with 99.8% order accuracy and a dedicated account manager who responds within 1 hour during business hours. We onboard brands in 24 hours with no long-term contracts, no order minimums and a $0 setup fee, plus discounted carrier rates and integrations with Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and more. Ready to plan around the closure? Get a fulfillment quote.