SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Thursday, October 2, 2025 — Crews from Front Signs have spent the past three days installing a half-scale replica of the iconic Santa Monica Pier Harbor sign, ensuring visitors can continue to capture the classic photo opportunity even as major changes loom for the Pier’s historic entryway.
Santa Monica Pier Executive Director Jim Harris said the installation preserves an essential part of the visitor experience. He explained that the original sign will soon be taken down and placed into storage for a complete refurbishment while the aging Pier Bridge is demolished and rebuilt. “We don’t want people to lose that chance to have their photo under the Pier sign,” Harris said, noting that the temporary replica has been placed in the central plaza of the Pier near Pier Burger and Pacific Park so it remains easily accessible to the public.
The replica sign marks the first visible step in the long-anticipated replacement of the 86-year-old Pier Bridge. Built in 1939, the bridge connects Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue to the Santa Monica Pier and is slated for a $35 million overhaul led by Shimmick Construction Company, Inc., a nationally recognized infrastructure contractor. The new bridge will be seismically upgraded, more accessible, and designed to last 75 years. Construction is expected to begin in November 2025 and conclude by December 2027, well ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
City officials have emphasized that the Pier will remain open throughout the process. Restaurants, shops, and attractions will continue to welcome visitors while temporary pedestrian and vehicle access routes are put in place. A comprehensive wayfinding program will guide guests during the bridge demolition and rebuilding phases.
Under the current schedule, the original Pier sign will be removed in early 2026, refurbished over the following 18 months, and reinstalled in September 2027, elevated for improved visibility. The bridge demolition is planned for summer 2026, with full construction running into late 2027.
More than three-quarters of the project’s cost is being funded through the Federal Highway Bridge Program, with the balance supported by local transportation funds. City outreach has included more than 30 meetings with Pier businesses and stakeholders to minimize disruptions during the two-year construction period.
For now, visitors will enjoy a rare sight: two Pier signs standing side by side — one a temporary replica, the other awaiting its careful restoration — as Santa Monica readies a new gateway to its world-famous pier.
