The green golden gate bridge of socal! Very cool route to take! We took this route after going to the korean bell of friendship. read more

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Vincent Thomas Bridge *July 26, 2025 *9:30am- Saturday *4 Stars Environment: *Lots of Construction *Moderate Traffic The Vincent Thomas Bridge is an iconic landmark in San Pedro. Headed over there on the way to take a test trial to see the Port of Los Angeles for a future cruise. The bridge was very nice and similar to the Gold Gate in San Francisco. There was moderate traffic for a Saturday and some mild construction. Definitely nice place to drive over, looking forward to future trips to that area. read more

Have you ever been to Long Beach if you don't know about the Vincent Thomas Bridge? This bridge is iconic for the Long Beach, San Pedro, Port of LA scene and skyline. I've been over the bridge a handful of times when traveling between Long Beach and San Pedro. Always an interesting, scenic drive when you go over the bridge. read more

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Iconic and Historic The Vincent Thomas Bridge is an iconic structure crossing the Los Angeles Harbor connecting San Pedro with Terminal Island in SoCal. We crossed this historic bridge, a symbol of the busy port of San Pedro, and will soon be aboard the Catalina Express ferry boat on our way to celebrate my hubby's birthday in Avalon. It is not quite as long as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco but is similar that they are both suspension bridges. Bridges are bridges right? Like the GGB, the Vincent Thomas Bridge also made it to the movies and television! It has been filmed with scenes from To Live and Die in L.A., Gone in 60 Seconds (both original and the remake w/ Nicolas Cage), City of Angels (another Nicolas Cage film), Lethal Weapon 2 (Danny Glover/Mel Gibson), Charlie's Angels (Drew, Cameron and Lucy), Inception w/ Leonardo DiCaprio, and Den of Thieves (Gerard Butler)... these are pretty popular films, not B movies! LoL! When I rewatch Charlie's Angels I'm going to look out for this bridge in the movie! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ This bridge is a piece of California history! Review #2967 read more

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Go ahead and you'll never know what's on the other side. It's always a nice drive in the Vincent Thomas Bridge, named after an Assemblyman, which links Los Angeles Harbor in Los Angeles and San Pedro with Terminal Island. It is the only suspension bridge in the Greater Los Angeles area. The overall length of the bridge is 6,050 feet, with a main suspension span of 1,500 feet and 500-foot spans on either side. The towers are 365 feet high. I like that there is no toll using this bridge and it offers a great view of the cargo terminals. Overall, it's a nice drive especially at sunset and evening. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Welcome to Vincent Thomas Bridge. #SanPedro #LATerminal - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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When we were kids, my dad would take us fishing off the rocks of the old Marineland (now Terranea resort) three or four times a week. We'd get our homework done in the van, the older kids helping the younger ones, and we would get tue sundown bite for all sorts of fish: calico bass, cabezon, opaleye, and a few other exotics at times. When the 110 freeway back to Pasadena was a tough drive (Dodger games, car accidents, SC Football, etc.) we would often take the Vi cent Thomas bridge over to the 710 freeway to try our luck heading north there. Back then, the bridge requires a toll-- 50¢ per vehicle, but only heading westbound. Even longer ago, my grandpa who was a Navy man would take us down to the Navy surplus store, and we'd buy socks, underwear and other effects on the cheap. The Vincent Thomas bridge also became a great shortcut during my early fishing boat days, especially when the 405 was in bad shape. Sometimes the coastal route from San Pedro all the way to Newport seemed faster just taking the VT through to Long Beach, and catching PCH through Seal Beach all the way down. Those days are gone, I guess, and nowadays, I only travel the bridge as a lark-- heading to the Catalina Express terminal or visiting my brother's mooring in LA Harbor. But the view from the bridge is as beautiful as it ever was-- on a clear day, the foreground of container ships with the snow topped San Gabriels in the distance? Pretty as a postcard. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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tonight i left long beach 140 total terminals tower job!! proceeded to go home to inglewood ca...crossing the vincent thomas bridge to the 110 northbound fwy!! when i crossed the 47 ...the bridge was very dark!! unlite by light as i continued 2 drive over!! the only car & 1,truck behind me @,12:45 am!! i was totally scared!!! praying to "god"!!! please let this bridge take me to the 110 northbound!! i was the only car!! then 2 behind me!! thank god i made it to the 110 north bound!!! read more

The Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, CA, is always a treat to drive on, but especially at night with all of the LED lights. The bridge was named after an orphan turned state assemblyman who grew up on streets and wharves in the area. This landmark is easily recognizable due to its light blueish color with towers that rise 365 feet high. It is part of CA State Route 47 that connects the 710 and 110 freeways. Once you reach the bridge headed west from Long Beach, you'll know that your exit towards Battleship Iowa, the Korean Friendship Bell, LA World Cruise Center, LA Maritime Museum, San Pedro Fish Market, Cabrillo Way Marina, and so much more is near. Much like the Gerald Desmond Bridge near the Port of Long Beach, you can get a clear view of the stacks of cargo containers at the Port of Los Angeles. During the COVID-19 pandemic it was even more breathtaking than it already is on a daily basis. If I had a nice camera and was even remotely decent at photographing, this bridge would look good framed on my walls at home. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge the bridge seen from the 110 fwy heading towards San Pedro. I remember as a kid I always wanted to go over that bridge when my parents were driving to San Pedro. I never really drove on it till after High School. No biggie now I just say it's a bridge to get to Long Beach from San Pedro I don't know if it's faster or slower vs going on the 710 fwy with no traffic. Either way it gets me to Long Beach. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

We started the Labor Day off at 4:00AM getting ready to get to San Pedro CA to, "Conquer The Bridge Run/Walk" event. This was the 11th year for the event. We arrived about 6:00AM, it was already packed...parking was not a problem there were a lot of free spaces available. The run/walk event was across the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The bridge is a suspension bridge. The bridge crosses the Los Angeles Harbor to San Pedro Harbor to Terminal Island plus also connects the 710 & 110 freeways. The bridge is 6,060 in length, 184 feet in height...it opened in 1963. There were so many friendly people there, I would say about 5,000. There was music playing, a few vendor booths, I did smell food but couldn't find where it was coming from. The event started at 7:00AM, there was no sun until we got to the top of the bridge. When we got to the top I had to stop to smell the beautiful view!! There was about a 40 degree incline going & coming back...no problem for me. The only complaint I have is that there should have been a few more water stations along the route, they only had two. I'm look forward to doing it again next year, God willing!! read more

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I understand this is the only suspension bridge in the L.A. area and maybe the only bridge whose color reminds me of American currency. It's iconic and until very recently used to fill my belly with butterflies at the mere thought of crossing it. Lately it seems the uneasiness has settled and driving across is no big deal, so yay for me. This is one of those bridges that on a clear day you can't miss its grandeur as it spans across the harbor. Gotta love the view from the bridge, on a clear day you can see....forever, I mean that and that's saying something because it's a big deal when we can actually see Catalina island. There are no bike or pedestrian paths on this bridge which is unfortunate but there are plenty of spots to safely snap a photo. Add this giant green suspension bridge to your To Do list and heck, maybe a harbor tour is in order too! read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Da bridge. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

This was the bridge that I would see when driving down to San Pedro and I would know absolutely that I never would drive over that HUGE bridge. I was never fond of bridges-or any man made structure that tall. Then, I moved to Long Beach. The only thing I disliked more than the bridge was being stuck in traffic on the 405 for a half hour more each day. So, up and over, I went. The VIncent Thomas (shortened to VT) and the Gerald Desmond (shortened to GD) connected the I-710 Long Beach to the I-110 San Pedro, CA. The 710 would get backed up from the downtown area with semi trucks from the ports so going over the VT bridge could really save time. And I got used to it and even enjoyed the sights. It is a beautiful bridge especially when lit at night. You would never know what you would see looking over. Usually, just tug boats, container ships or the cruise ships in port, but I have seen the world's largest yellow rubber duck floating. Keeps your daily drive to work interesting. The only negative is when there is an accident on the bridge. I knew ways around if I could exit in time but you could get stuck for hours going across or an hour getting to the ways around. There is also construction going on the GD bridge (Gerald Desmond) which caused a maze like of detours to get to Ocean Blvd. to downtown Long Beach. You would get an up close view of the intricate machines that moved containers off the ships, which could be a plus, if you weren't doing it daily. It's definitely worth going to see the Vincent Thomas Bridge. It's beautiful-even if you don't want to drive over it. read more

The Vincent Thomas Bridge, also knows as the 47, goes between San Pedro and Long Beach. It connects to the 110 and 710 freeways, branching off to the various Los Angeles ocean ports. This is the reason why there are so many cargo trucks, all the time. It's predominantly comprised of two lanes going both directions, and even though the speed limit is much lower, drivers are usually at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, which wouldn't be bad if the lanes weren't so tight and curvy. Therefore, I enjoy the view more as a passenger than the driver. I like looking at all the numerous, multicolored shipping containers sitting, waiting to be delivered. Hey, we have a bridge in the South Bay. Currently, they are constructing a higher bridge paralleling this one, so there's an annoying detour where you get off and back on right before you get off at Ocean in Long Beach. read more

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Approaching the Vincent Thomas Bridge from the Long Beach side right now is like threading a needle. An extensive construction project underway creates a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride kind of experience. Once on the bridge, you're treated to a high level view of container ships and cargo gantries. The scale becomes impressive when you think about just one container going for a ride on a big rig. To see hundreds of them on a ship gives perspective. The Vincent Thomas Bridge sports blue lights at night. I'd say it's more interesting after dark than during the day. It plays an important role, connecting San Pedro with Long Beach, two busy ports. More utilitarian than beautiful, it gets the job done. read more

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If you are poor or just down on your luck but yet a hopeless romantic! Then this must be on your bucket list to explore. I have taken this bridge ever sense I was a little girl and that first man that introduced me to this bridge is my father. I know! I am so lucky to have an awesome adventurous father. The other it doesn't really matter what time of day or night the view is always so pretty. Every view or angle that you capture will be breath taking. Just a beautiful ride! read more

I would see Yuri's check ins here and wonder what this bridge was all about. .. When I saw it myself in real life, I felt like I was the Little Mermaid, Ariel! I wanted to sing, "A Whole New World" because it's so beautiful! Wow! That teal color really popped against the overcast sky! The immense height reminded me of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco! I had to stop at the side of the road and take a few photos! My reaction is probably because we don't have bridges like this in Hawaii. It's just amazing to me. I can imagine the engineering, design and construction of this huge magnitude. Breath taking! The surrounding industrial area was interesting, too! And I was just on my way to lunch in Long Beach. ..not knowing that I'd be crossing this bridge! Such a pleasant surprise! From Wikipedia: "...the fourth-longest suspension bridge in California and the 76th-longest span in the world. The clear height of the navigation channel is approximately 185 feet (56 m); it is the only suspension bridge in the world supported entirely on piles." read more

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We enjoyed going over this bridge and seeing all the different color containers in the shipping yard.

I take this bridge at least one a week. I love bridges. Not those highway overpass impostors! But I nice sturdy (I hope), high over the water (don't want the ships' tops scraping the bottom), fun to drive (weeee), free (no tolls here but there used to be), bridge. The bridge lights up in a blue outline at night and it's a nice look. Good info if you feel like a read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Thomas_Bridge Other than that; have a drive! The bridge & I thank you. read more

It's about FUC'n time, right? I have been traversing this behemoth damn near daily for the better part of 36 years, to and fro the good ol' money maker. Now, my obsessive compulsive behavior has led to a near 2 year addiction to Yelp and subsequent compulsion to review "the bridge". I remember seeing it under construction as a little $hitbum, while traveling to and from the LBC via the Terminal Island / SP ferry back in the old days. What a freaking marvel I thought. How in the hell are they doing that? What keeps it up? Multiples of inquisitive thoughts raced thru my pre-teen brain, much like "Ex Lax" would run thru an elder's digestive system... Used to pay the quarters, (travel in both directions), then $.50, (to travel in one direction, westbound), and eventually would "buy the books" to cross daily on my way to work, all the while, the fascination with "the bridge" never stopped... The view, (both directions), especially during the dusk and dawn time periods, was spectacular, (much like Terry Hatcher's "pair" for those of you that remember a particular Seinfeld episode). One could only enamor the glorious, magnificent hues that our great maker bestowed upon us... All for free!!! To this day, I am still appreciative of what "the bridge" has to offer from a panoramic standpoint, especially on clear days. Unbelievable vista's available, all for free, from Catalina to the San Gabriel's, Palos Verdes to Dana Point... No toll needed... read more

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I don't come on this bridge often, as I usually just take the 405S to the 710S whenever I head to Long Beach. However, I had just gotten done having dinner with friends in south Torrance, and I had plans to meet another group of friends in LB, so this was the route to take. The bridge is narrow, two lanes either way, and takes you from San Pedro to Terminal Island. Aside from the beauty that is longshoremen's heaven, the bridge is pretty nice to drive on at night. Just stay alert, as you'll be sharing the narrow way with semis, and you don't want to swerve into any of them. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

We were heading to Long Beach for dinner and the 405 was packed, so my husband decided to take the 110 and we ended up on this bridge. It was kinda scary since I could imagine us crashing into the water below. If you like bridges, this is a long one and you'll probably enjoy the ride. read more

I have always been a lover of architecture and bridges definitely fall into that category. There are actually two bridges to go over; the Vincent Thomas (closer to San Pedro and the 110 Freeway) and the Seaside Bridge (closer to Long Beach and the 710 Freeway). Right now, the Seaside Bridge is a total construction mess, as they work on the bridge, but I can't wait until it's done. Besides the crazy traffic, construction, delays, and detours, it's a nice front row seat to the Harbor and some of its inner workings. You have a great view of the waterfront/port and both San Pedro/PV and downtown Long Beach. The Vincent Thomas has been updated over the years with a nice coat of paint, beautiful blue lighting that can mostly be seen at night, and improvements to the transition from the bridge to the 110 freeway. Where it used to be one lane that would clog up traffic because people were merging, it now moves a lot smoother with two lanes. I've also completed Conquer the Bridge, which is a walk/run that they hold every Labor Day. They shut the bridge down early morning on a Sunday, I believe and you walk and/or run from 7th and Harbor, down to the bridge on ramp and across the bridge and turn back around at that first traffic signal and back to 7th Street. It's a killer! My thighs and ass screamed at me for a good week, but between the workout and the views, it was totally worth it! read more

When i lived in Long Beach, this was one of the best back roads to take back and forth from San Pedro/Torrance to Long Beach. It's tall, it's high, and convenient. It's best taking it on the weekends. The traffic can easily back up rush hour. Lots of construction towards Long Beach, but tolerable. It's our mini Golden Gate/Bay bridge. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Love driving on this bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

The duty-bound Vincent Thomas Bridge, (VTB) is an army green gargantuan bridge in San Pedro, that connects the 110 fwy to the 710 fwy. It is a free access road; (State Route 74), and you will also drive over a smaller bridge connected near it, called the Seaside Bridge. I was afraid of driving over the VTB; because I'm a big scaredy cat when it comes to heights, but the bridge warmly welcomed me into it's caring arms. It is a very sturdy bridge and it will not sway in either direction when you drive over it. I was afraid of it, and I dared not look down; especially when at the highest peak of the VTB. But the bridge knew I was scared, and he kept his strong bridge arms nice and steady for me. The Vincent Bridge takes its job very seriously, and he wants everyone to drive over his surface. The more the merrier, so go ahead and try it! People are not allowed to walk over the Vincent Bridge. It's like trying to walk on the freeway. You just DON'T DO THAT! It's asking for trouble! Someday I would LOVE to run/walk the Bridge. They hold an annual event every year on Labor Day, and it's called, Conquer the Bridge. They close it to cars early in the morning, and anyone who wants to challenge their legs and lungs can attempt to do this run. You have to get up early because the race starts at 7:00am! It's 5.3 miles in length, 11.6 Km. So that means if you can do a 10K run, this one isn't going to kill you! The Vincent Thomas Bridge isn't as scary as I thought. I can say that now because I drove over it twice yesterday. It's a cool experience to drive over it, as long as you can remember to keep your eyes focused on the road. If I were braver, I'd gaze down over the water, and look at the thousands of colorful containers stored in the shipyards. They look like a super-GIANT,multicolored patchwork quilt! But scaredy cats like me have to be extra cautious about driving over high bridges! They're building another bridge right by the VTB, and this one will be 250 feet high! That's higher than the Vincent Bridge!!! OMG, I will NEVER be able to drive over that bridge. It's just TOO HIGH!!!! It is called the Gerald Desmond Replacement Bridge, and it will be completed in 2019. They are building areas for pedestrians to walk over it and also a bike path with scenic overlooks. I can't wait to see if I can ever get the nerve to try it!!!! read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Vincent Bridge - LOVE IT!!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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Thanks to having no sense of direction, I ended up driving across this bridge...alone...something I thought I'd never EVER do! I have a great fear of bridges and avoid them if possible. When a passenger, I close my eyes or cover my face to avoid looking out of the car windows. I drive around on the feeeway to get from Long Beach to San Pedro. I needed to get to a realtor's office by a certain date and time, however. I didn't realize my navigation was guiding me through a ton of construction and over the VT Bridge until I was at a point of no return. Go figure traffic came to a halt as soon as I got to the peak. What did I do to avoid panicking and looking over the side of the bridge?? I blasted my radio and started taking pictures. I must say I cracked a smile because the day was beautifully sunny and bridge quite serene. The construction anf architecture was amazing to see up close. I felt like I mildly conquered a fear and can only imagine how pretty the view is on a clear night. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - The beginning!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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My daughter went to Heart Camp today. I'm sad and glad all at the same time. The Catalina Express is what she and her fellow kid travelers took to get to Catalina Island. The weather was a bite windy but still pretty good to travel. She'll be gone for a week and I'll miss her. You can see the Vincent Thomas Bridge from the Docks. I definitely would recommend my fellow yelpers to come out and see the boats and visit the restaurant they have here as well. read more

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Yeay for the Vincent Thomas Bridge! I ran it today in the Conquer The Bridge race. It was awesome. I had a really good time! Since I didn't get to run on the San Francisco Golden Gate bridge last month, this was MY bridge moment. Heh. read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Vincent Thomas Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Absolutely beautiful Bridge. Its definitely fun to drive across and you can see the USS Iowa and occasionally super cargo ships or tankers from it as well. The bridge is grated allowing it to drain easily which is sometimes needed in a wharf area. Primarily made out of metal it also seems to be a rarity in that regard. Too bad its not painted some random obtuse color so that it can be super famous like the golden gate, but I like it in its Hunter Green hue. Its also a great way to pass from Long Beach to Seal Beach. Thus giving both communities access to the other without having to circumvent the wharf. For my betting odds, its definitely one of the top bridges to check out in So Cal. I bet you will be a fan as well. read more

I'm into the Vincent Thomas Bridge (VTB). It's a San Pedro icon. I've gone over the bridge a few thousand times, at one point I went over the bridge every day for work, for like 3 years. See the various pictures, it is a 1,500' foot long beauty, the 4th longest suspension bridge in California! It's also a nice perch to see the San Pedro & Long Beach harbor and scope out the cruise ships. It also provides sweeping views of Long Beach (Queen Mary) and the hilly bluffs of the South Bay landscape. If you really want to get intimate with the setting, do the annual running race over the bridge, which is called 'conquer the bridge' and it is held on Labor Day. Drive (or run) safe. read more

Whenever I head to LB, I always try to take this route! The 110 South is most of the time a smooth drive and the bridge over looks a historic view! I've had many memories driving through this bridge but my most recent experience was with my mother! Growing up my mother showed me around LA and Hollywood. She was the main reason why LA is such a big staple in my life! She however, has never been through this bridge, she might not have even known of its existence! I had the great pleasure of actually intriguing her! She knows so much about LA and has traveled to so many places. All the places I discover, she knows about! She was looking out the window, exploring the surrounding port. She looked like a little kid! It will definitely be my fondest memory of Vincent Thomas Bridge! :] read more

I have been across this bridge so many times and wish it held to the name. Love it like to see the bay all the ships all the cranes. Its bedder when I get to be a passenger like when I was a kid. And then I think back to when I was a kid and it was $0.75 to cross that's when I wish it held to the Thomas part if only to have the money I spent. read more

Seriously "AVOID" this bridge during the hours of 1600 to 1900!! It was a nightmare trying to get on the bridge. I could see that traffic wasn't moving on the bridge so I was able to exit off Harbor Blvd and even that took some time! Needless to say, I had to reschedule my appointment as I knew I wouldn't make it to Long Beach on time. I'm sure I could've made my appt had I just taken the surface street instead...ugh! I've taken this bridge many times and would give it an additional star and a half as it's toll free and has some decent views. read more

This isn't the Golden Gate Bridge. But, its pretty close to it. I usually take it to get to my brother's house in Pedro. My niece and daughter love it. At night they have blue lights that are aligned with the steel wiring. It looks great. I recall as a kid they had toll booths. My mother convinced me that it was an INS checkpoint. We would hide under blankets and she would convince us that we safely crossed the border. We were US citizens and it wasn't until I got older that I realized it was a horrible prank by my mom. I loved looking at the rear glass and driving away from la Migra toll booth thinking,"We sneaked back into the US again." It was fun then, and still fun now to drive through it. read more

San Francisco has the world renowned Golden Gate Bridge. Los Angeles has a bridge too. It is green, less well known than GGB and doesn't charge a fee for driving on it. I actually didn't even know LA has a bridge until I was watching Wong Fu Productions' Away We Happened Series (great series btw) and saw the big, green thing on the background. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_VaaoJt8Hw&feature=youtu.be&t=9m12s As I was driving along the bridge, I can't say I was impressed by the view along either side of the bridge. Since this bridge connects between 2 port cities with Long Beach and San Pedro, the view consists of mostly thousands of shipping containers, cargo ships and machines. After driving across, I wanted to go to the shoot location and park my car to shoot some pictures of the bridge. To get there from the Long Beach side, take exit 1C for Harbor Blvd. Just continue to head straight onto Swinford St. There should be a small parking lot there. If all the spaces are full, you can just drive further up pass the booth. I believe the first hour is free. At this location, there is a small wooden pier with plenty of benches and wavy chairs that are just fun to lay down. And of course, it offers a beautiful view of the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the port. If you have some time in your hand, the USS Iowa is also nearby so definitely take the chance to visit it as well. The Korean Friendship Bell is also somewhat close-by so I would recommend checking it out too. It's a great place to see the ocean and relax. read more

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The Vincent Thomas Bridge is like the smaller version of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and it's green in color instead of red. I driving through this bridge, you will see the an overview of the San Pedro and Harbour City port. On the road, you will be between lots of Optimus Primes instead of Ferraris. Worth a drive through. read more

The Vincent Thomas Bridge (est. 1963) is a long suspension bridge that links from the South Bay area to Down Town Long Beach (DTLB). Connecting the 110S freeway to Ocean Blvd in LBC, you can pretty much take this short cut if you're trying to avoid the 405 to 710 freeway traffic. (But it's pretty much the considered the State Route 47). There are a bunch of trucks which migrate through this area since the San Pedro fright and terminal is really close by. For those of you who are afraid of heights (*ahem* like my boyfriend), the bridge is pretty sturdy and hasn't had any problems. There are like 11 bridges in Portland, that are wayyyyyy older than the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and they seem to be doing quite well (IMHO). OOHs & AHHs = I agree with some of the Yelpers - the bridge does mirror the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. At night, it's quite breath-taking, seeing the bridge all lit up! Great photos if you're into taking scenic pictures! There's a nice view if you look out the window while driving through the bridge. FUN FACTS = - 4th longest suspension bridge in CA - The bridge was built to replace the ferries connecting from San Pedro to Terminal Island - Was a toll bridge since 1963 (25 cents), 1985 (50 cents), then ceased tolls in 2005 - Those are blue LED lights that you see lit up at night. - 1500 feet long and 185 feet high I usually take this bridge when I head to DTLB when I'm coming from either the Carson/Torrance/Lomita/Harbor City/PV area (Note: this area is considered to be the "South Bay" and not to be mixed up with NorCal's version of the "South Bay"). The drive from the 110 to Ocean Blvd. is about 10-15 minutes without traffic. Happy Travels =) read more

Bridge to/from Long Beach and San Pedro. Its construction right now, may be traffic, cool views.

For my 1,250th review, I've decided to go back to my roots. No, I'm not from Terminal Island or San Pedro or even Long Beach, but I do have a childhood memory of driving over the Vincent Thomas Bridge and thinking, "I thought San Francisco was much farther from our house than this." At the time, I don't think I had ever been to San Francisco, and I obviously didn't think about the fact that this bridge is green while the Golden Gate is international orange. This is also where I learned that my great aunt Chris (RIP) was deathly afraid of heights. My parents, brother, and I were in San Pedro to see my sister and a bunch of extended family off on a cruise to Mexico, and Auntie Chris described how she had been closing her eyes the whole time over the bridge. (I think my great uncle Frank [RIP] had told her they were still on the bridge long after they had crossed it; he was funny like that.) I didn't think about this bridge for many years, but then when I got involved with the San Pedro Catholic Worker when I was in college, I spent a lot of time in San Pedro. During the summers and after I graduated from college, I devised my own convoluted routes from Whittier to San Pedro. Sometimes, these routes included the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and I remember seeing the bridge in the distance and instantly recalling my childhood wonder before I crossed it. There used to be a fifty-cent toll to cross the bridge, but they eliminated it once the bond was repaid. That's obviously how those things are supposed to work, but can you believe they actually stuck to their word? How many times over has the Golden Gate Bridge been paid for, and I'm still paying $5 (thanks, FasTrak) to cross it? I was pretty excited when the toll disappeared, but it also saddened me for some reason. The bridge is beautiful at night, thanks to the blue LED lights that illuminate it. Fun facts: The Vincent Thomas Bridge is the third longest suspension bridge in California (after the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge, respectively, I assume). It was the first bridge to use solar panels to power its LED lights. (Other bridges had used solar panels, and other bridges had had LED lights, but this was the first one to combine the two.) Oh, and they turn the lights off at midnight, so you can't see the lights in the middle of the night. The view from the bridge is really nice. Driving over it makes me think of Bukowski and Fante, and that's kind of depressing, but it's the kind of depressing that makes me happy. read more

Thank Goodness for GPS! There was a lot of construction and work zone cones when we visited (three times) on the way to the cruise port (Norwegian and Princess; there is a ship museum, too). It's very industrial (the containers, the cargo trucks, etc.)- the entire area, and one can easily get lost here. The work zone changes can get confusing- again, thanks to GPS, we made it through, alright. Lianne K. mentioned that it is a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride- I had to laugh, because she is right about that. Even though, it was familiar, it was almost like a new experience, every time we visited (because, the work areas changed, over the years). It is massive, tall (hubby said it was kind of scary), and teal green, though (it's impressive). But in between, it is like a maze. So, it is a wild adventure, with every visit. I was just glad to get to the cruise port, each time. (It's interesting to see that people actually live in this industrial area). read more

I love bridges.And because I live near this one I enjoy going over it when ever I can.In the evening when they turn those blue LED lights on,it's damn near romantic.Rolling into downtown Long Beach from San Pedro in the evenings is beautiful.Sunsets, amazing.Like others have reviewed,they used to charge vehicles(heading toward San Pedro only)$1.00.I was told it was to help in the cost of maintenance.Now, they don't charge at all.If visiting California,or just in the South Bay/Long Beach area,no visit complete with out checking out the VTB. It's not the Golden Gate,or the many cool bridges in New York,But it's our own south land treasure.Enjoy!!! read more

Vincent Thomas Bridge - Crossing the VTB on a very rainy Tue.night,heading into the LBC. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me