Advisory: Port Congestion on the U.S. West Coast and Planned Closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge
Recently, the volume of cargo arriving at U.S. West Coast ports has remained consistently high, leading to severe terminal congestion. Consequently, vessel unloading and container pickup operations are expected to face delays of 3–4 days, or potentially longer.
According to official announcements from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Port of Los Angeles, the Vincent Thomas Bridge is scheduled to close completely for construction starting in November 2026. The closure is expected to last approximately 16 months, with a planned reopening in March 2028.
During the construction period, trucking operations at all terminals within the Port of Los Angeles will be affected to varying degrees. The bridge closure will likely necessitate route adjustments and detours for trucks traveling to and from the terminals. This is expected to increase transit times, further exacerbate traffic congestion in the vicinity of the port, and negatively impact overall efficiency in container pickup and delivery.
