Every week Next republishes a story from the City Manager’s Update. I know Next has covered this before, but given the hysterical misinformation, I thought we’d do it again.
After 85 years of welcoming visitors, the Santa Monica Pier sign is about to take a well-earned break!
Following coordination with Caltrans this past week, work to remove the Pier Sign is scheduled to begin Monday, October 19, with the sign itself expected to come down on Tuesday, October 20. As with any construction schedule, those dates could shift, and we’ll be sure to confirm with everyone on the precise project schedule as we get into this next week!
The most important thing to know is that the sign is not going away for good, and it is not being replaced! Instead, what’s happening is that the Pier Sign is being taken down so it can be restored and protected while the Pier Bridge is rebuilt. Crews will disconnect the power, remove and crate the neon tubing, and then lift the sign off by crane. From there it heads to Las Vegas, where the sign company YESCO will restore it. The plan is for the Pier Sign to be reinstalled in mid- to late 2027, slightly north of its current location and a bit higher for better clearance and visibility.
In the meantime, we wanted to let everyone know that you can still get your photo with the sign! If you recall, a half-scale replica, lit at night, has been in place on the Pier deck next to Pier Burger since last fall.
The sign’s removal is one step in the $35.6 million Pier Bridge Replacement Project. The existing bridge dates to 1939 and no longer meets modern seismic standards. The new bridge will be 447 feet long with a 15-foot sidewalk on its south side and a 75-year service life. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2027, ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the meantime, the Pier and its restaurants and shops remain fully open for the public to enjoy!
We know how much this sign means to people, and we expect plenty of attention when it comes down!
More to come on this item soon, and for more information, the City’s Pier sign fact sheet is available online here!
