The Vincent Thomas Bridge is a suspension bridge, crossing Los Angeles Harbor in Los Angeles, California, linking San Pedro with Terminal Island. It is the only suspension bridge in the Greater Los Angeles area. The bridge is part of State Route 47, which is known as the Seaside Freeway. The bridge opened in 1963 and is named for California Assemblyman Vincent Thomas of San Pedro, who championed its construction. Its chief engineer was William "Jim" Jurkovich who was instrumental in bringing pre-stress concrete bridge design to California. It was the first welded suspension bridge in the United States
History
thumb|The bridge viewed from . A [[cruise ship is seen in dock, as well as a cargo ship. The Victory Ship SS Lane Victory is also visible, moored between the cruise ship and the bridge.]]
The bridge's construction was advocated by state assemblyman Vincent Thomas, who represented San Pedro. He spent 19 years beginning in 1940 arguing for the 16 different pieces of legislation that were necessary for the bridge's construction. During that time and in the years right after it was built, it was ridiculed as "The bridge to nowhere". Some residents, including many women who worked at the canneries, tried unsuccessfully to keep one of the smaller pedestrian-only ferries operating after the new bridge's opening because the ferry was available at any time including night-shift hours but the new bus service involved long waits.
In 1961, before the bridge opened in 1963, the California State Legislature passed Concurrent Resolution 131, naming the bridge after Thomas. At the time of it passing, he was the longest-serving assemblyman. The project was scheduled to begin in January 2026 and is slated to finish in advance of the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tolls
thumb|Eastbound entrance from N. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro, California as of September 2011
When the bridge opened in 1963, the toll was 25 cents () in each direction, with the toll plaza on the Terminal Island side. In 1983, the toll increased to 50 cents () for westbound traffic but became free for eastbound traffic. and Den of Thieves.
In the 1995 film Heat, the bridge is mentioned by Robert De Niro's character when he points to the location and mistakenly refers to it as the "St. Vincent Thomas Bridge."
The bridge was also featured extensively in season 1/episode 7 of NBC's crime series, CHiPs, airing November 3, 1977, titled, "Taking Its Toll." The old tollbooths were the center of the action, where bandits mugged drivers to steal contents from their cars.
The 1978 episode of NBC's Columbo entitled "The Conspirators" had a scene where Peter Falk's title character Lt. Columbo tries unsuccessfully to speed across the bridge in his 1959 Peugeot convertible.
In August 2012, for the season three premiere of the History Channel's show Top Gear, the bridge was used as a finishing line for a closed course race. The race was between professional driver Tanner Foust, who drove a 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 police car, and professional stunt driver Ernie Vigil, who drove a Triumph 1050 Speed Triple motorcycle.
Video music
It was also the scene of the video "I Think I'm in Love with You" by Jessica Simpson.
Video games
The bridge was featured in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as the Ocean Docks Bridge, and in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V, where it is referred to as the Miriam Turner Overpass. The bridge is also featured in Need for Speed: Most Wanted as "Heflin Drive", in The Crew and The Crew, and in Need for Speed as the South Port Bridge.
Suicides and stunt diving
Los Angeles police say a suicide attempt is made from the bridge "every few months". The most notable case includes that of film director Tony Scott who jumped off the bridge on August 19, 2012.
On October 26, 1990, 1964 Olympic diving bronze medalist Larry Andreasen was killed jumping from the west tower of the bridge in an attempt to set a diving record.
Gallery
See also
- Gerald Desmond Bridge
- Long Beach International Gateway
- Terminal Island
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge, a similar design with two towers in Washington