Hydraulic breakers finish work in one day instead of the planned eight, restoring main access to Santa Monica Pier parking.
By Carlos Reyes
Appian Way reopened to vehicle traffic Tuesday, days ahead of schedule, restoring the main route to the Santa Monica Pier’s primary parking lots.
The roadway had been expected to stay closed for up to eight days while crews demolished a section of the existing Pier Bridge as part of the Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project. Demolition finished in a single day after the contractor switched from the saw-cutting method used elsewhere on the bridge to two hydraulic breakers.
City officials said the change sped up the work while keeping safety standards in place.
The larger bridge replacement project is designed to improve safety, accessibility and long-term reliability of the historic gateway. Construction is scheduled to finish by 2028, before the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Access to the Pier and its businesses is being maintained throughout the work.
