The Port of Los Angeles has officially broken ground on one of the most significant public access projects in Wilmington’s history, marking a major milestone in the long-term effort to reconnect the community to its waterfront. The $152 million Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway Project is designed to deliver unprecedented pedestrian and bicycle access to the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade while transforming former industrial land into open space, recreation areas, and a new civic gateway.
Federal, state, and City of Los Angeles leaders joined Port officials, Harbor Commissioners, and community members on Feb. 26, 2026, to celebrate the start of construction on the project, which will anchor the next phase of Wilmington’s waterfront transformation. Once complete, the project will feature a signature 380-foot-long pedestrian bridge spanning active rail lines and linking Avalon Boulevard directly to the waterfront, creating a safe and seamless connection that has long been requested by residents.
The Avalon Pedestrian Bridge will connect to the newly created Avalon Promenade Gateway, a public recreation and open-space area being built as part of the same project. Together, the bridge and gateway will convert approximately 12 acres of former industrial land into a landscaped community destination designed for gathering, recreation, and access to the water.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the project a transformational investment for Wilmington and the city as a whole. She emphasized that the redevelopment of underutilized industrial land into green space and recreation areas reflects a broader commitment to revitalizing neighborhoods and improving quality of life. The project, she noted, represents a long-term investment that will benefit residents and local businesses for generations.
State leaders echoed that sentiment, highlighting the project’s role in expanding safe, multimodal transportation and public spaces. California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin pointed to the state’s continued investment in infrastructure that reconnects communities while supporting sustainable transportation and economic opportunity through programs such as the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program.
At the local level, Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker, whose district includes Wilmington and the Port, described the bridge as a critical next step in the continued evolution of the waterfront. He noted that the project builds on the success of the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade by providing direct, safe access across railroad operations while adding much-needed green space for families, residents, and visitors. Strengthening the connection between Avalon Boulevard and the waterfront is expected to support nearby businesses and create new opportunities for community activity.
For the Port, the project aligns with long-standing goals to expand public access along the working waterfront. Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Lucille Roybal-Allard said the new bridge and gateway recreational area represent another important step toward making the harbor more accessible while enhancing community-focused open space.
Port Executive Director Gene Seroka emphasized that the project is the result of extensive community engagement and input over several years. Through public workshops, interviews, and surveys, the Port worked closely with Wilmington residents and stakeholders to shape a project that reflects local priorities. Seroka described the bridge as more than an infrastructure improvement, calling it a foundation for stronger connections, shared opportunity, and a brighter future for the community.
Design details underscore the project’s ambition. The pedestrian bridge, designed by engineering firm TYLin, will be a concrete cable-stayed arch structure providing a secure crossing over active rail lines. The bridge will connect directly to the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, a Port Public Access Investment Plan project that opened in early 2024 and marked a major step forward in waterfront accessibility.
The surrounding Avalon Promenade Gateway will include a landscaped entry plaza featuring an iconic 40-foot-tall architectural sundial, a historic walk and overlook, an open terrace seating area, pedestrian pathways, and dedicated community gathering spaces. The project also incorporates two parking lots, public restrooms, and significant street and utility improvements at Avalon Boulevard and A Street, including grading, paving, lighting, striping, and landscaping.
Geographically, the project site sits between Harry Bridges Boulevard to the north and the Pacific Harbor Railroad lines to the south, extending roughly 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.
The Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway Project represents the third phase of the Wilmington Waterfront Master Plan, adopted in 2007, and continues the Port’s broader effort to balance its role as a global trade hub with community access and livability. Funding for the project includes $10.2 million from Metro Measure M and the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, $42.1 million from the California State Transportation Agency, and $5 million from the Federal Highway Administration.
As work begins, the project stands as a visible example of how the Port of Los Angeles is investing not only in cargo movement and infrastructure, but also in people, neighborhoods, and long-term connections between Wilmington and its waterfront. For residents who have long lived beside one of the busiest ports in the world, the bridge promises something both symbolic and practical: a clear, welcoming path to the water.
