City Council approved a $35.5 million contract to replace the city's iconic but aging pier bridge, moving forward with a critical infrastructure project that will keep one of California's most popular tourist destinations accessible during the 2028 Olympics.
The council awarded the construction contract to Shimmick Construction Company, Inc. to replace the 86-year-old Santa Monica Pier Bridge, which has a sufficiency rating of just 8.2 on a 100-point scale and does not meet current seismic standards.
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 and take 24 months to complete, finishing before the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics. The new bridge will have a 75-year service life and meet modern seismic and safety standards.
The Pier Bridge Replacement Project will replace the 86-year-old bridge and provide a seismically sound and functional bridge for residents, businesses, pedestrians, bikers, vehicles, and visitors.
The Federal Highway Bridge Program will fund approximately 75% of the project cost — $30.2 million — with the remainder coming from local transportation funds. The city has already executed an agreement to be reimbursed for construction expenditures under the federal program.
Keeping the Pier Open During Construction
City officials emphasized that the Santa Monica Pier will remain open to visitors throughout the two-year construction period, with temporary access solutions in place to minimize disruptions to the millions of annual visitors and local businesses.
A temporary pedestrian bridge will be constructed adjacent to and south of the existing bridge, providing an 8-foot-wide walkway similar to the current north-side walkway. For vehicles, a temporary ramp will connect the pier to the beach parking lot, accommodating emergency vehicles, deliveries and public parking.
The construction will require the use of Lot 1 North as contractor staging space, resulting in the temporary loss of approximately 365 parking spaces. However, city staff have developed comprehensive wayfinding materials, including vehicle and pedestrian maps, signage and directional floor stenciling to help visitors navigate the area.
Bridge Design and Historic Preservation
The replacement bridge will be approximately 447 feet long and 39 feet wide — about 5 feet wider to the north than the existing structure. The new design moves a 15-foot-wide sidewalk to the south side of the bridge, while vehicles and bicycles will use a 20-foot-wide roadway on the north side.
The historic blue pier sign will be temporarily removed during construction for restoration and safe storage. Upon project completion, the refurbished sign will be reinstalled approximately 10 feet north of its current location and elevated to provide improved visibility and clearance.
To ensure visitors can continue having that ‘Instagrammable Pier experience’, a temporary half-scale replica of the iconic neon sign is being installed this month in the middle of the pier, adjacent to Pier Burger and near the Pacific Park entrance.
Extensive Public Outreach
City staff have conducted more than 30 outreach meetings since 2023 with pier businesses, the Pier Corporation Board, the Santa Monica Travel and Tourism organization, and community stakeholders. The Pier Corporation Board of Directors expressed support for the project in a letter to the city in August 2025.
The council also approved a $4.89 million contract with Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. for construction management and inspection services, and authorized additional engineering support services with Dokken Engineering, Inc.
The current bridge was built in 1939 and connects Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue to the Santa Monica Pier. In a typical year, it carries millions of visitors from Palisades Park to the pier and beach.
The project has been in development since the 1990s, with the city working through various federal approval processes and environmental reviews. The council certified the project's environmental impact report in June 2023.