A key part for repair of Vallejo’s Mare Island Causeway Bridge is expected to be installed Monday, more than two years after the drawbridge got stuck in the down position, the city said.

The 165-foot vertical lift bridge, built in 1934 to connect the city with the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, can’t be raised and lowered for boats because of a broken metal coupling.

“The replacement coupling for the bridge’s mechanical system has been received, and installation is anticipated on Monday,” the city said Friday. “Once installed, the bridge is expected to resume normal opening operations.”

Crews are also preparing to reinstall the historic Mare Island Naval Shipyard Medallion, closing he bridge Nov. 18 and 19. During the closure, motorists will be required to detour to the state Route 37 Napa River Bridge.

A close-up of a rusted, oil-slicked orange mechanical coupling connecting two green industrial components.
A broken metal coupling on the Mare Island Causeway Bridge, a drawbridge built in 1934 that connects Vallejo and Mare Island, in Vallejo, Calif., in October 2026. The coupling is a specialized part that is crucial for the raising and lowering of the drawbridge, and could require custom fabrication. (City of Vallejo via Bay City News)

Additional work will be needed to correct the bridge’s balance system, expected to take place within the coming weeks, the city said.

Since August 2025, motorized traffic on the bridge has been limited to one lane entering Mare Island.