𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗬 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗡: Sixth Section Removed from Santa Monica Pier Bridge

𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔, Calif. — Wednesday, July 22, 2026 — Crews from Shimmick Construction reached another major milestone Wednesday morning in the Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project, removing the sixth of the bridge's 16 spans as demolition of the aging structure continued. The span, located along the eastern portion of the bridge, had been prepared over the past week as crews used a large circular concrete saw to cut the reinforced concrete deck into nine individual panels. Once the cutting was completed, a large crane methodically lifted each precut section from the bridge and lowered it to a staging area below, where additional crews began processing the concrete for removal and recycling. With Wednesday's operation complete, six of the bridge's 16 spans have now been removed, marking steady progress in the phased demolition of the 86-year-old structure. Temporary timber and steel falsework installed beneath the remaining bridge continues to provide structural support, allowing crews to safely cut and remove each section in a carefully controlled sequence. Originally constructed in 1939, the Santa Monica Pier Bridge no longer meets modern structural and seismic standards. The approximately $35 million, federally funded replacement project will deliver a new seismically resilient bridge designed for a projected 75-year service life. The replacement bridge will feature a 15-foot-wide pedestrian walkway, improved ADA accessibility, upgraded utilities, enhanced accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists, maintenance vehicles, and emergency responders, and improved connections between Ocean Avenue, Colorado Avenue, and the Santa Monica Pier. The project is expected to be completed in late 2027, well ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Throughout construction, the Santa Monica Pier remains open to the public via a temporary pedestrian bridge, while businesses, restaurants, parking facilities, deliveries, and emergency access continue through temporary routes. Santa Monica Closeup will continue providing on-the-ground coverage as crews dismantle the historic bridge span by span and construction of its modern replacement moves forward. #SantaMonicaPier #PierBridgeProject #BridgeReplacement #ShimmickConstruction #ConstructionUpdate — ⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 This video is protected by copyright and provided for personal viewing only. Any copying, downloading, re-uploading, reproduction, distribution, sampling, or other use, including commercial or editorial use, without prior written authorization from Santa Monica Closeup is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. © 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. — 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations. — 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣 PayPal/Venmo/Credit Card 👉 https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/M6... 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 Instagram 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Facebook 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Twitter 👉   / smcloseup   — 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦    / @santamonicacloseup   — 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 Email 👉 [email protected] — 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U