California will soon commence a new phase in the Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project, a 6,062-foot (1,847.7-meter) bridge that carries a major state route across the Los Angeles Harbor.

As of November 2026, the project will require the closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge for approximately 16 months, during which Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, will replace the bridge deck and carry out safety upgrades.

According to the department, detour routes and enhanced traffic management measures will be introduced to help minimise disruption for commuters, commercial truck drivers and workforce personnel.

The full shutdown follows several months of preparatory work, including overnight one-way bridge closures and resurfacing of local streets that will form part of the diversion network.

With the planned closure period extending beyond a year, concerns among local stakeholders are focused primarily on road transport rather than port operations as terminals and rail activity are expected to remain operational.

The greater challenge is likely to come from traffic being diverted onto alternative routes around the port complex, creating more variability in container collection and delivery times as well as reduced trucking productivity during peak periods.

While additional congestion and disruption are anticipated during the early stages of the closure, the project is not expected to create a fundamental restriction on cargo moving through the ports.

Meanwhile, operational indicators in the port complex have already been elevated, according to a report by the Journal of Commerce.

The report mentions that data from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association show truck dwell times reached 2.95 days in August, while rail dwell times increased to 6.75 days, the highest level since March 2025. The same data showed average truck turn times of 60 minutes during the month.

As a result, challenges could impact trucking operations serving the Port of Los Angeles with the potential for a significant loss of productivity around the port. This could include a rise in demurrage during the initial phase of the closure.

For more information about how this impacts your shipment, do not hesitate to contact your local Kuehne+Nagel representative.