The iconic blue neon sign marking the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier will soon come down temporarily as part of the ongoing replacement of the Pier Bridge.
The sign is being removed to protect it while crews demolish the existing bridge and construct its replacement. Once the new bridge is complete, the historic sign will be restored and returned to the entrance.
The city expects the new bridge to be completed by the end of 2027.
The sign, which dates to 1941, is expected to be dismantled in sections and transported to Las Vegas for restoration by YESCO, a company specializing in historic sign restoration. The work will include carefully removing the neon tubes, taking down the sign’s supporting structure and transporting the components for refurbishment.
The sign will not be replaced with a new design. According to the city, its historic character will remain intact and the restored sign will eventually return to the Pier.
A temporary half-scale replica has already been installed near the entrance to the Pier so visitors will still have a version of the familiar landmark during construction.
Part of the Pier Bridge replacement
The sign’s temporary removal is one relatively small part of the much larger Pier Bridge Replacement Project.
The existing bridge is nearly 90 years old and serves as the primary vehicle connection between Ocean Avenue and the Pier. The replacement project will bring the bridge up to modern seismic and accessibility standards while improving pedestrian circulation.
The new bridge is expected to have a roughly 70-year service life and will include wider pedestrian sidewalks and redesigned approaches.
Construction is already underway, with the city working to maintain access to the Pier and its businesses throughout the project. A temporary pedestrian bridge and parking access have been provided while portions of the existing structure are demolished and replaced.
The historic sign itself will also receive some upgrades as part of the work.
When it returns, the sign is expected to be slightly higher than its current position. The change is intended to provide additional clearance for vehicles traveling beneath it and bring the sign’s clearance into compliance with current state standards. Environmental documents for the bridge project also call for the sign to be moved slightly north so that it remains aligned with the vehicle lanes on the new bridge.
The original sign was installed in 1941 and still carries its historic message: “Santa Monica Yacht Harbor – Sport Fishing – Boating – Cafes.” It was designated a California historic landmark in 1996.
So while visitors may soon notice that the familiar blue arch is missing from the entrance to the Pier, it is not going away.
It is heading out for a little maintenance while the bridge underneath it gets a much bigger overhaul.
The city expects the restored sign to return when the new Pier Bridge is completed, currently scheduled for late 2027.
