Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Rail Project

Driving Right Now

•  Current Access: The bridge is partially reopened on a temporary basis with one eastbound-only lane for vehicles. Westbound traffic must use the current detour.
•  Current Detours: Westbound vehicles are detoured via 7thAve, Soquel Ave, and Seabright Ave. View detour map(PDF, 2MB).
•  What to Expect: Longer travel times and increased congestion on nearby streets, particularly along westbound detour routes.
•  Tip: Allow extra travel time, watch for posted traffic signs, and follow detour directions.
•  What’s Next: A second full bridge closure is scheduled from June through September 2026.

Biking Right Now

• Current Access: The bridge is partially reopened on a temporary basis for bicyclists. Eastbound cyclists may use the full travel lane. Westbound cyclists must dismount and walk their bikes on the bridge sidewalk or use the current detour.
• Current Detours: Westbound cyclists may use the detour via 7th Avenue, across Arana Gulch/Broadway, and Seabright Avenue. View detour map(PDF, 2MB).
• What to Expect: Eastbound cyclists will share the travel lane with vehicles. Westbound cyclists should expect to dismount or follow the signed bicycle detour.
• Tip: Use caution while riding through the construction area. If walking your bike on the bridge sidewalk, be courteous and yield to pedestrians.
• What’s Next: A second full bridge closure is scheduled from June through September 2026.

Walking Right Now

•  Current Access: The bridge is partially reopened on a temporary basis to pedestrians with two-way access. The East Harbor Access Road beneath the bridge remains closed. Use the current detour for harbor access road use.
•  Current Detours: Pedestrians traveling between the southeast harbor and upper harbor may cross the Murray Street Bridge and use the West Harbor Access Road. Alternatively, pedestrians may use Eaton St., 7th Ave., and Brommer St. to access the upper harbor and Arana Gulch. View detour map(PDF, 2MB).
•  What to Expect: Longer walking routes and temporary changes to sidewalks or crossings near the construction area.
•  Tip: Follow posted pedestrian detour signs and use designated crossings for safety.
•  What’s Next: The East Harbor Access Road is expected to reopen in summer 2026. A second full bridge closure is scheduled from June through September 2026.

Project Visual Guide

View how construction is sequenced over time, including required construction windows, such as in-water work periods, and when access changes or bridge closures are needed to safely complete the work. Click to view larger(PDF, 1MB).

(PDF, 1MB)

Summer 2026 Full Closure

A second full closure of the Murray Street Bridge is planned for June through mid-September 2026 and is expected to last approximately three and a half months. This closure will be significantly shorter than the first full closure (June 2025 - Jan. 2026).

• The closure is required to relocate a regional wastewater pipeline on the south side of the bridge.
• The pipeline serves approximately 35,000 residents in Live Oak, Capitola, Soquel, and Aptos.
• This work must occur during the summer months, when wastewater flows are lowest

Work on the south side of the bridge cannot begin until the new pipeline on the north side is fully installed and operational. In addition, this work must occur during specific seasonal windows to protect marine life and ensure worker safety. The next allowable in-water construction period runs from June through October 2026

February 2027 Full Closure

A short-term full bridge closure is planned for one week in February 2027 to complete remaining work.

December 2027 Full Closure

A short-term full bridge closure is planned for two weeks in December 2027 to complete remaining work. 

To support construction beneath the Murray Street Bridge, the harbor access paths used by people walking and biking will be closed intermittently. These paths run beneath the east and west sides of the bridge and connect the north and south sides of the harbor. Only one access path will be closed at a time to maintain harbor connectivity whenever possible.

Current Closure: East Harbor Access Path

The east harbor access path beneath the bridge is currently closed and will reopen later than the previously anticipated February 2026 timeframe. Crews are completing additional work in this area to support a longer, more continuous reopening in the future. The City will share an updated reopening timeline as soon as it is available. The west harbor access path remains open.

Upcoming Closures

• West harbor access path: Intermittent closures anticipated in the first half of 2027.
• East harbor access path: Intermittent closures anticipated in the second half of 2027.

Boats will continue to have access under the bridge throughout the project, ensuring minimal disruption to this mode of transport.

The City of Santa Cruz is upgrading the Murray Street Bridge to improve public safety, strengthen it against earthquakes, and modernize its traffic barriers. The project includes major structural work beneath the bridge, along with improvements to the bridge deck and safety features.

As part of this work, the bridge will be strengthened with new structural supports and widened to better serve people walking and biking. When complete, the bridge will include 6-foot-wide bike lanes and a 7.5-foot-wide sidewalk on the south (ocean) side, creating a safer, two-way pedestrian path. Elevated curbs along the bike lanes will be replaced with standard-height curbs to improve the bicycling experience.

The project will also replace the existing solid concrete vehicle barriers with see-through barrier rails, improving visibility of the harbor and ocean. In addition, a new and upsized County sewer force main serving Live Oak, Capitola, Soquel, and Aptos is being installed as part of the project.

The Murray Street Bridge is the last remaining bridge in Santa Cruz that has not yet been upgraded to modern seismic standards; other City bridges were retrofitted in the early 2000s. Construction began in January 2025 and is scheduled to be completed by January 2028, with an estimated project cost of $50 million.

• Construction hours are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., with occasional Saturday work when needed.
• Activities such as pile driving, excavation, and heavy equipment operation will generate noise.
• Dust control measures, including water spraying and covered stockpiles, will be implemented to reduce airborne particles.

Construction work includes pile driving, a process where long steel tubes, called “piles,” are driven deep into the ground to form a strong foundation. This involves a crane-mounted hammer repeatedly striking the hollow steel piles, which will generate loud noise. The piles will be driven deep into the bedrock beneath the harbor.

• The first round of pile driving took place July 24, 2025, through October 2025, during construction hours.
• The second round of pile driving is scheduled to take place from June 15, 2026, through October 2026, during construction hours.

The work zone will be fenced and secured throughout the project. Do not enter construction areas for safety reasons. The City is working with local agencies to ensure that transportation services, road maintenance, and emergency response planning align with project timelines and anticipated traffic disruptions.

Wildlife protections are in place and project environmental measures include, but are not limited to bat roosting surveys, nesting bird surveys, and fish habitat monitoring to minimize ecological impact.

• 3.9.26 Press Release: Murray Street Bridge to Return to One-Lane, Eastbound-Only March 10
• 2.27.26 Press Release: Murray Street Bridge Scheduled to Transition to 2-Way Traffic March 2
• 1.27.26 Press Release: Murray Street Bridge to Partially Reopen on January 28
• 1.9.26 Press Release: Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Rail Project
• 6.5.25 Press Release: Murray Street Bridge Full Closure Begins June 23
• 3.19.25 Press Release: Murray Street Bridge Westbound Lane Closure Begins March 24
• 2.14.25 Press Release: City of Santa Cruz Begins Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Replacement Project

• 2.5.26: Murray Street Bridge Partially Reopened
• 1.9.26: Murray Street Bridge Partial Reopening Ahead of Schedule
• 11.26.25: Murray Street Bridge Partial Reopening Scheduled for February 2026
• 10.2.25: New Murray Street Bridge Project Visual Guide
• 7.23.25: Murray Street Bridge Pile Driving Begins This Week
• 7.9.25: East Harbor Pedestrian Access closed starting Monday, July 14
• 5.16.25: Murray Street Bridge Harbor Access Path Closure Dates
• 4.22.25: Updated Murray Street Bridge Harbor Access Path Closure Schedule
• 4.16.25: Murray Street Bridge Harbor Access Path Closures
• 3.19.25: Murray Street Bridge Westbound Lane Closure Begins March 24
• 3.7.25: Murray Street Bridge Community Meeting

The City of Santa Cruz will share regular updates about the Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Replacement Project. Sign up to receive project email updates (select City Manager Update), and follow Public Works on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news.

To support mobility and transit in Santa Cruz’s Seabright community during the Murray Street Bridge Retrofit Project, METRO has launched the Seabright Shuttle, a free, flexible, curb-to-curb service to help residents, employees and visitors travel efficiently around the Seabright area utilizing METRO’s ParaCruz vans. The Seabright Shuttle will pick you up at your home or business and take you to the nearest bus stop, or will pick you up from the bus stop to your Seabright area destination, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn More.

The free Santa Cruz Harbor Water Taxi operates during the summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, on Thursdays, Fridays, weekends, and holidays. To provide additional access during the Murray Street Bridge construction, the water taxi may operate as needed during the fall, holidays, or special events. Learn more.

Visit exploreseabrightharbor.comto learn about Seabright and Harbor area shops, restaurants, attractions and events.

• Bridge Plan(PDF, 43MB)
• Environmental Compliance/CEQA
• General Plan Bridge Image(PDF, 259KB)
• Marine Wildlife Protection Plan(PDF, 197KB)
• Retaining Wall Plan(PDF, 7MB)
• Roadway Plan(PDF, 29MB)
• Specs(PDF, 11MB)