Murray Street Bridge to reopen eastbound lane in late September

The eastbound lane of the Murray Street Bridge will be reopened on Sept. 28, the City of Santa Cruz announced Monday afternoon. 

The bridge has been fully closed since June 10 due to major construction efforts, including installing piles and support structures on the south side of the bridge. Crews also completed a new sewer main on the north side of the bridge.

The nearly four-month closure was required because it was the project’s in-water construction period, the only time that the pile installation process is allowed. 

While the project is making necessary updates to the bridge, the closure has come with its share of difficulties for residents. It shut down a major city artery, resulting in worsened traffic congestion and consistent struggles for surrounding harbor and Seabright businesses. 

There are only two more planned short-term full closures of the bridge remaining — a one-week closure in February 2027 and a two-week closure in December 2027. The project is scheduled to wrap up in January 2028.