By C. MacDonald
SAN PEDRO--The spectacular Vincent Thomas Bridge is the "Official Welcoming
Monument" to Los Angeles. The suspension bridge daily welcomes thousands of
people to LA's major seaport district of San Pedro as well as the port.
The 4-lane, 2.2 mile bridge, whose towers rise 35 stories above LA's Harbor,
replaced ferry service between San Pedro and Terminal Island in 1963.
The longtime dream of its namesake, Assemblyman Vincent Thomas, who championed its creation over decades, became reality as the first welded (not riveted) suspension bridge in the United States. It's also the only such structure in the world supported entirely on piles. Nearly 1,000 piles were sunk to hold it up.
But the first thing people notice, during the day, is its magnificent "green" color. It takes more than 1,000 gallons of green paint to cover its span. The eye-catcher also took 92,000 tons of cement, 13,000 tons of lightweight concrete, 14,100 and tons of steel and 1,270 tons of suspension cable to complete.
"It's so important for the economy of the port and community," said Scott Gray of the San Pedro Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This bridge makes our town accessible and not only helps residents to get to and from jobs but brings tourists in to see the USS Iowa, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Crafted, and all the other neat things we have to offer."
The bridge, which once had a 25-cent (or more) toll (until its $21 million cost was paid off by 2000), has served as a vital link for the Ports as well as San Pedro.
In 1968, it was linked by State Highway 47 directly into the Harbor Freeway, which really helped the Ports of LA and Long Beach grow by enabling them to move containerized cargo easier to and from ships.
John M. Mavar, a longshoreman at the Ports and former "Honorary Mayor of San Pedro," calls the memorable bridge "iconic" for its "green" daytime look and its beautiful "blue" lights at night.
"I travel to and from work every day on the Vincent Thomas and when I reach it in the evening, I know I'm coming home," said the popular community activist. Over 160 blue lamps light up the bridge from dusk to midnight with energy-efficient LED lights. There are 360 LEDs per lamp, which can be seen from a distance.
The bridge, designed by the California Division of Highways and now owned and maintained by CALTRANS, celebrated its 50th Anniversary on November 15, 2013. Fifty years ago, Vincent Thomas proudly paid the first 25-cent toll for crossing the structure.
"Wow! I can't believe it's 50-years-old," said Anita Bennett of Sunset Bay Candy Company in La Verne, CA. "I remember it being built. It seems like yesterday."
Shirley Dasso said she's proud of the bridge (which handles more than 32,000 vehicles on a weekday). "It makes traveling easier and helps the economy on both sides," explained the San Pedro resident. "It's just a beautiful bridge that my husband, Andrew, and I enjoy looking up at from our boat or admiring while driving."
No wonder the icon has been featured in numerous Hollywood productions, from films like "Gone in 60 Seconds," "Lethal Weapon" and "Charlie's Angels" to TV Shows, such as "Mission Impossible" and "Trapper John, MD."
"It's really funny that in Trapper John, which was about a doctor in San Francisco," chuckled Scott Gray, "our bridge was a stand-in for the Golden Gate." Probably made Vincent Thomas chuckle and mighty proud!
(There's a nice exhibit, which features the Vincent Thomas Bridge's 50th
Anniversary, complete with artifacts and photos at the Los Angeles Maritime
Museum, Berth 84 at the foot of 6th Street in San Pedro. For further
information on the bridge and San Pedro, contact The San Pedro Convention
and Visitors Bureau: spcvb.com and www.johnmavar.com.