Port of Los Angeles Breaks Ground on $152Million Avalon Pedestrian Bridge

With shovels in hand, federal, state and City of Los Angeles officials joined Los Angeles Harbor Commissioners, Port of Los Angeles officials and community leaders to mark the start of construction on the $152 million Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway project in Wilmington.

The community-focused project will create unprecedented public access to the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade via a new signature 380-foot-long bridge, which will also connect to a new open space public recreation area -- the Avalon Promenade Gateway -- also being built as part of the project.
 
“We are thrilled to begin construction on this transformational project that will create more green space and recreational opportunities for Wilmington residents and visitors alike,” said Mayor Bass. “By transforming 12 acres of former industrial land, this project is one of the many ways we are working to revitalize, reimagine, and build connections in communities across the city. I want to thank Governor Newsom, Councilmember McOsker, the LA Board of Harbor Commissioners, and the Port for moving this historic investment forward that will benefit residents and local businesses for generations to come.”

“We are proud to support projects that reconnect communities and expand access to opportunity,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Under Governor Newsom’s leadership through the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, California continues to invest in safer multimodal transportation and vibrant public spaces that deliver lasting benefits for communities across our state.”

“The Avalon Pedestrian Bridge represents another major step forward for Wilmington and the continued transformation of our waterfront,” said Los Angeles City Council member Tim McOsker, whose 15th District includes the Port and Wilmington. “This project builds on the success of the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade by adding safe, direct access across the railroad while increasing much-needed green space for families to gather and enjoy. The investment will strengthen the connection between Avalon Boulevard and the waterfront, supporting local businesses and creating new opportunities for the community to thrive.”

“Investing in our communities and expanding public access to our waterfront has long been a priority at the Port of Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Lucille Roybal-Allard. “The building of this beautiful new bridge and gateway recreational area represents another step toward achieving that goal.”

“This project, the result of countless community input sessions, is more than simply building a bridge,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We’re laying the foundation for stronger connections, shared opportunities and a brighter future for everyone in the Wilmington community.”

The Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway project will transform 12 acres of former industrial land into open space that features a landscaped entry plaza with an iconic 40-foot-tall architectural sundial, a historic walk and overlook, an open terrace seating area, pedestrian pathways, community gathering areas, two parking lots and public restrooms. The project also involves street and utility improvements at Avalon Boulevard and A Street, including grading, paving, striping, lighting, and landscaping.

The project’s signature pedestrian bridge, designed by engineering firm TYLin, is planned as a concrete cable-stayed arch structure that will offer a safe crossing point over working rail operations and will connect to the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, a Port Public Access Investment Plan (PAIP) project completed in early 2024.

The site for the Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway is located between Harry Bridges Boulevard to the north and the Pacific Harbor Railroad Lines to the south in Wilmington, extending halfway between Marine Avenue and A Street to the west and Broad Avenue to the east. Construction is expected to be completed by late summer 2028.

In designing the project, the Port worked closely with Wilmington residents and project stakeholders to gather input and ideas. Over the past several years, the Port organized multiple public workshops, arranged interviews and conducted online surveys to gather information to assess the needs and wants of the local community.

The Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway is the third phase of the Port’s implementation of the Wilmington Waterfront Master Plan adopted in 2007. Grant funding for the project includes $10.2 million from Metro Measure M/South Bay COG; $42.1 million from the California State Transportation Agency; and $5 million from FHWA.

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