Murray Street Bridge Full Closure Confirmed for June 10

Published on June 02, 2026

The City of Santa Cruz is advising the community that the next full closure of the Murray Street Bridge will begin on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, as part of the Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Replacement Project.

Full Closure Begins June 10

Beginning June 10, both westbound and eastbound lanes of the bridge will be closed to vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. The closure is expected to continue through September while crews complete the next major phase of construction on the south side of the bridge.

Community members are encouraged to plan ahead and allow additional travel time while detours are in place.

Why Is the Bridge Closing?

The full closure is required to support the next major phase of construction, including pile driving, foundation work, and installation of new bridge supports on the south side of the bridge.

The Murray Street Bridge project requires several major construction phases to occur in a specific order. A full bridge closure in summer 2025 allowed crews to install new piles on the north side of the bridge. This summer's work focuses on the south side of the bridge and represents the final extended full closure of the project.

Why Is the Work Happening in Summer?

This phase includes construction activities that occur in and around the water. Environmental permits limit this work to a specific summer construction window to help protect sensitive fish species and habitats.

The summer schedule also allowed crews to complete the relocation and bypass of a regional wastewater pipeline that serves approximately 35,000 residents, a critical milestone required before this phase of bridge construction could begin.

Detours

The following detours will be in place during the full closure.

• Vehicles will be routed via Seabright Avenue, Soquel Avenue, and 7th Avenue.
• Bicyclists will be detoured through Arana Gulch and Broadway using Seabright Avenue and 7th Avenue.
• Pedestrians will be directed around the north harbor, with access available via Eaton Street, 7th Avenue, and Brommer Street.

Looking Ahead

After this summer's work is complete, the project will move beyond the longest full-closure periods. Two shorter full closures, each anticipated to last approximately one to two weeks, are planned in 2027 to support remaining construction activities.

The Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Replacement Project remains on budget and on schedule for completion in January 2028. For project updates and detour information, visit the Murray Street Bridge project webpage.