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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
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.
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.
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.
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!!
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!
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.
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.
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."
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...
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.
11 months ago
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
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
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
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
1 year ago
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
5 years ago
11 years ago
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
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
8 years ago
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
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
7 years ago
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
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
14 years ago
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
6 years ago
14 years ago
17 years ago
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
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Is the bridge open tonight?
This answer is coming a little late, but, YES, the bridge was open last night! I crossed it to get to and from Long Beach's Queen Mary.
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