THE SHORT ANSWER
Caltrans says the Vincent Thomas Bridge has a new sequence of SR-47 closures tied to its deck-replacement project. On Saturday, September 26, the right-hand lane of southbound SR-47 is scheduled to close from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. From Sunday night, September 27 through Friday morning, October 2, Caltrans plans five overnight closures of northbound SR-47 between Harbor Boulevard and Ferry Street, each from 10:45 p.m. to 6:45 a.m.
The larger travel change begins November 1, 2026. Caltrans says the bridge will fully close for 16 months for the Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project. The project page says the bridge is expected to reopen before the 2028 Olympic Games.
SEPTEMBER 26 THROUGH OCTOBER 2
The September 26 work is a southbound right-lane closure, not a full southbound bridge shutdown. During the later northbound overnight closures, Caltrans also plans to close the Gaffey Street and Channel Street northbound on-ramps and the southbound I-110 to northbound SR-47 connector.
Caltrans publishes a northbound detour via Pacific Coast Highway to Route 103 to Route 47. Use current signs and QuickMap because Caltrans says dates, hours and other closure details can change because of weather or operational factors.
NOVEMBER 1 FULL CLOSURE
Caltrans says preliminary construction leads into a full 16-month bridge closure beginning November 1, 2026. That can materially change trips between San Pedro, Terminal Island, Long Beach, port terminals and other Los Angeles Harbor destinations, but it does not prove that a particular cruise, terminal, hotel, attraction or business is closed.
For November 2026 and later trips, verify the exact origin, terminal or destination and current route shortly before departure. Build extra time into cruise-terminal, airport-transfer, event and hotel plans instead of assuming a normal bridge travel time or an invented universal delay.
WHY THE BRIDGE IS CLOSING
Caltrans says the bridge, built in 1963, remains structurally sound but its deck is rapidly deteriorating from heavy traffic, age and the marine environment. The project replaces the deck and seismic sensors and also replaces railings, fences and the median barrier.
WHAT BON VOYAGE COMPASS WILL AND WILL NOT CLAIM
Bon Voyage Compass can organize Caltrans's published closure windows, detour direction and long-range project schedule into one planning guide. It will not fabricate a travel time, claim a cruise or terminal is canceled, guarantee a reopening date, or infer that every road in San Pedro, Long Beach or Terminal Island is closed.
This guide was source-checked September 26, 2026 against Caltrans. Recheck the official project page and QuickMap before travel, and refresh this same canonical when Caltrans materially changes the schedule rather than creating date or terminal variants.