Graffiti News

The Graffiti Bridge west of Davis, California, reopens to regular traffic on Saturday, October 10, 2026, without the graffiti that gave it its name. According to CBS Sacramento, Stevenson Bridge, as it is officially called, was repainted during an $8.3 million bridge rehabilitation project that kept it closed for more than five months.

The Graffiti Bridge reopens after an $8.3 million rehabilitation

Stevenson Bridge, known locally as the Graffiti Bridge, is back in service after a closure that began in May 2026. CBS Sacramento reports that the $8.3 million project included seismic upgrades, foundation work and concrete repairs. The bridge spans Putah Creek between Yolo County and Solano County, west of the city of Davis.

For drivers and residents who use the crossing, the reopening ends a closure of more than five months. For people who knew the bridge mainly for its painted surfaces, the structure that returns will look very different.

Stevenson Bridge is a rare 1923 concrete arch bridge

Stevenson Bridge was built in 1923 and is 298 feet long. It is considered a rare example of a reinforced concrete through tied-arch bridge. Officials have said it may be the oldest bridge of its kind in the United States. Its age and uncommon design give it a place in engineering history that is separate from its reputation as a graffiti spot.

The graffiti on Stevenson Bridge did not survive the project

Before construction started, county officials had not said whether the graffiti covering nearly every surface of the bridge would be kept. According to CBS Sacramento, it was not: the bridge was repainted as part of the rehabilitation. The nickname remains, but the surfaces that earned it are now under fresh paint.

What a repainted landmark means for street art followers

Losing graffiti during repairs is a common outcome when a heavily painted structure goes through maintenance. Infrastructure work puts the condition of the structure first, and paint that has built up over years can be covered in a single project. For people who follow graffiti and street art, it is a reminder that work on bridges, underpasses and retaining walls is temporary by nature.

The case also sits inside a long-running debate. Some people see heavily painted spots as part of local culture and want them preserved. Others see the same surfaces as vandalism that a public owner should clean up. Wallscape does not take a side in that debate, and it does not encourage painting on property without permission.

Photos are often the only record left

When a surface is repainted, photographs become the main record of what was there. Images taken before a construction project, along with notes on location and date, help keep a visual history of a place after it changes. The Wallscape map lets people browse street art and mural locations, which is one way to follow how walls change over time.

Work around Stevenson Bridge continues through December

The reopening does not end all work at the site. CBS Sacramento reports that some tasks will continue through December, including embankment reconstruction, tree planting and erosion control. County officials said that work will not close the bridge and will not interfere with the annual salmon run in Putah Creek.

What to watch next at the Graffiti Bridge

The CBS Sacramento report does not say how the county plans to manage the new paint, or whether it has a policy on future graffiti at the site. Those are the open questions for anyone who follows the bridge. The crossing is open again from Saturday, October 10, 2026, though crews may still be working near the creek banks until December.

Source: CBS Sacramento (CBS News)