The westbound Pier T offramp from Ocean Blvd. is now permanently closed and will be fully demolished during a closure of Ocean Blvd. this weekend. Removal of the overpass is necessary as construction begins on Terminal Island for the new $1.1 billion Gerald Desmond Bridge project. Access to Pier T will remain through alternate routes.
The offramp closed for good at 11PM Tuesday night and crews over the next few days will began demolishing ramp sections adjacent to Ocean Blvd. To eliminate the portion of the offramp that passes over Ocean Blvd., there will be a three-day closure in both directions of the heavily used street starting Friday, July 12.
Officials said westbound Ocean Blvd. will be closed between Harbor Scenic Drive and SR-47 and eastbound Ocean Blvd. will be closed at the SR-47 interchange from Friday night through Monday morning. Also affected during this temporary weekend closure will be the southbound 710 connector to Ocean Blvd. and the westbound Pico Avenue on-ramp to Ocean Blvd. Southbound 710 traffic seeking to go west toward Terminal Island will be diverted at Pacific Coast Highway.
Detour details for how to access Pier T until a permanent westbound route can be established are outlined below:
Throughout construction, Pier T in the Port of Long Beach will remain accessible from the eastbound Ocean Blvd. offramp. The onramps to Ocean Blvd. will also remain open in both directions.
Once the Pier T offramp is gone, construction can begin on the west approach for the new Gerald Desmond Bridge, which will be built adjacent to the existing, aging bridge. Though the old bridge will remain in use during the three-year construction of the new one, motorists should expect this and other traffic changes.
For more information, visit newgdbridge.com
Read more:
- New Gerald Desmond Bridge An Upgrade Of National Significance
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