𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗧: Huge Rebar Cage Lowered Into 135-Foot Pier Foundation

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 — Deep-foundation work continued Thursday morning at the Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project, as Malcolm Drilling crews completed drilling on the fifth foundation shaft and lowered a massive reinforcing-steel cage approximately 135 feet long into the newly drilled foundation. The operation followed Wednesday’s drilling work and represents the next step in constructing the deeper foundations in this section of the bridge alignment. Using a crawler crane and supporting equipment, crews lifted the cylindrical rebar cage from the staging area, brought it upright and carefully guided it into the drilled shaft. Workers then secured and positioned the reinforcing assembly as it descended into the foundation. The cage will provide the internal steel reinforcement for the concrete foundation shaft. Concrete placement is scheduled for Friday, completing the next major stage of work on this foundation. The approximately 135-foot shaft is deeper than the first four foundations completed earlier in the project, which extended roughly 100 feet below ground. As construction has advanced farther along the bridge alignment, Malcolm’s drilling equipment has been repositioned into the new work area for the deeper foundation operation. Thursday’s work also demonstrated the scale of the reinforcing system required underground. The cage stretched high above the construction site when raised vertically, with workers guiding it into position beside Malcolm’s large tracked drilling rig. The foundation construction is part of the City of Santa Monica’s replacement of the Pier Bridge, the reinforced-concrete structure built in 1939 that provides the Pier’s sole vehicular connection and a key pedestrian link. City project information states that the existing bridge has structural deficiencies and does not meet modern seismic and safety standards. The replacement will provide a seismically sound bridge designed for a service life of at least 75 years, along with improved pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access. Plans include a 15-foot-wide sidewalk to accommodate the Pier’s heavy pedestrian traffic while preserving the visual character of the historic entrance. Construction is scheduled to continue through December 2027, ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The current project schedule calls for bridge construction to continue through the remainder of 2026 and 2027, with the historic Pier entrance sign also scheduled to be rehabilitated and reinstalled as the project approaches completion. : Santa Monica Closeup continues to document the Pier Bridge Replacement Project as crews build the deep foundations that will ultimately support the new bridge. #SantaMonicaPier #BridgeConstruction #DeepFoundations #MalcolmDrilling #HeavyEquipment #civilengineering — ⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 This video is protected by copyright and provided for personal viewing only. Any copying, downloading, re-uploading, reproduction, distribution, sampling, or other use, including commercial or editorial use, without prior written authorization from Santa Monica Closeup is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. © 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. — 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations. — 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣 PayPal/Venmo/Credit Card 👉 https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/M6... 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 Instagram 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Facebook 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Twitter 👉   / smcloseup   — 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦    / @santamonicacloseup   — 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 Email 👉 press@santamonicacloseup.com — 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U