Construction crews have begun work on replacing the 86-year-old Santa Monica Pier Bridge, launching a two-year, $35.5 million project to rebuild one of the City’s most critical infrastructure connections.
Signs of the work are largely limited to a section of the adjacent parking lot where entry ways have been altered to allow for a staging area but the work will soon be unmissable alongside Santa Monica’s most famous stretch of road.
The project replaces a bridge built in 1939 that connects Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue to the Santa Monica Pier, one of California's most popular tourist destinations. The existing structure has long been scheduled for replacement after a sufficiency rating of just 8.2 on a 100-point scale and does not meet current seismic standards.
Workers mobilized onsite this week to begin early fieldwork and site preparation, including potholing and utility work. Initial activities will also include widening and strengthening portions of the pier in advance of bridge demolition and construction, according to city officials.
Despite the major construction effort, pier restaurants, shops and entertainment will remain open and accessible throughout the project, ensuring residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the destination with minimal disruption. Parking and visitor access will also be maintained.
Approximately one-third of Beach Parking Lot 1 North, adjacent to the pier, will be used as a construction staging area, resulting in the temporary loss of approximately 365 parking spaces. However, approximately 726 parking spaces will remain available at Beach Parking Lot 1 during construction. Wayfinding signage is being installed to direct drivers to multiple alternate parking locations near the pier.
To maintain access during construction, the city will install temporary bridges and ramps. A temporary pedestrian bridge will connect visitors from Ocean Avenue to the pier, providing an 8-foot-wide walkway similar to the current north-side walkway. A temporary vehicular ramp will maintain access to the pier from the beach parking lot for emergency vehicles, deliveries and public parking.
A comprehensive wayfinding and signage program will guide visitors during construction, including vehicle and pedestrian maps, signage and directional floor stenciling.
Construction is expected to continue through the end of 2027, with several key milestones planned throughout the two-year period.
In January 2026, the historic blue pier sign will be removed for rehabilitation. Between January and April 2026, crews will install the temporary vehicle and pedestrian ramp. Bridge demolition is scheduled for May through August 2026, with bridge construction continuing from August 2026 through December 2027.
The refurbished pier sign will be reinstalled in July 2027, approximately 10 feet north of its current location and elevated to provide improved visibility and clearance. Between July and October 2027, workers will remove the temporary vehicle and pedestrian bridge and restore Parking Lot 1 North. The project is expected to reach completion in December 2027.
To ensure visitors can continue having an "Instagrammable Pier experience" during construction, 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.
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 expanded sidewalks will improve pedestrian access and accommodate the high volume of foot traffic to the pier. Walkways on the pier deck will also be realigned to improve circulation.
The new bridge will meet modern seismic and safety standards and provide a 75-year service life. The replacement will preserve the visual character and aesthetics of the surrounding area, including views from Palisades Park, while addressing critical structural deficiencies in the current bridge.
The Santa Monica City Council previously approved the $35.5 million construction contract with Shimmick Construction Company, Inc. to complete the replacement project. 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 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.
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.
For questions related to the project, residents and visitors can contact pierbridge@santamonica.gov or call 310-740-9545.