𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗧: Seventh Span Removed from Santa Monica Pier Bridge

𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔, Calif. — Thursday, July 23, 2026 — Crews from Shimmick Construction reached yet another milestone Thursday morning in the Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project, removing the seventh of the bridge's 16 spans as demolition of the historic structure continued at a steady pace. Like Wednesday's operation, the span had been prepared over the previous several days as workers used large circular concrete saws to cut the reinforced concrete bridge deck into nine individual panels. Once the cutting was completed, a large crane carefully lifted each precut section from the bridge and lowered it to a staging area below, where additional crews began processing the material for removal and recycling. While the crane operation was underway, a second crew continued preparing the next bridge span for demolition using two large circular concrete saws, methodically cutting through the bridge deck in preparation for another future lift. Elsewhere on the project site, demolition crews used heavy equipment to separate reinforcing steel from the broken concrete removed from the bridge. Excavators loaded the crushed concrete into waiting dump trucks, where it was hauled away for processing and recycling, while the recovered steel was separated for recycling. With Thursday's operation complete, seven of the bridge's 16 spans have now been removed, marking continued progress in the phased demolition of the 86-year-old structure. Temporary timber and steel falsework installed beneath the remaining bridge continues to support the structure, allowing crews to safely cut and remove each span 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, along with improved connections between Ocean Avenue, Colorado Avenue, and the Santa Monica Pier. Construction is expected to continue through late 2027, with completion scheduled 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 advances. #SantaMonicaPier #PierBridgeProject #BridgeReplacement #ShimmickConstruction #ConstructionUpdate #SantaMonica — ⚠️ 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