A bear statue that has become a favorite of visitors and locals alike was moved on June 1 to allow for the replacement of the South Bay Bridge in Los Osos. Often dressed up for holidays and other occasions, the bear will be back in action when the project is completed.
Residents have been wondering when and where the iconic bear statue at the corner of South Bay Boulevard and Turri Road would be moved as construction begins on the Los Osos Creek Bridge replacement project. Their answer came early Monday morning, June 1, when crews carefully relocated the landmark to a temporary home.
The statue, which weighs approximately 26,000 pounds, was moved to a secure location next to the project’s construction trailer, where it will remain during the bridge construction process.
“In this location we will be able to put a security camera on it and keep an eye on it,” said a project representative.
The bear is expected to remain at its temporary location until construction of the new bridge is completed, which is currently anticipated in 2027.
Once the project is finished, the statue will be returned to a prominent location near its current site. Plans call for the bear to be placed roughly where the center of the current lanes are located, welcoming motorists as they enter Los Osos.
The bear statues were created by local artist Paula Zima and have become a recognizable symbol of the community. The name “Los Osos” is Spanish for “The Bears,” a reference dating back to the 1769 expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá, whose party reportedly encountered numerous grizzly bears in the area.
The bridge replacement project is intended to improve safety and accommodate future transportation needs. The existing bridge, built in 1966, is a three-span concrete structure that has been identified as seismically deficient and vulnerable to collapse during a major earthquake.
San Luis Obispo County plans to replace the aging bridge with a new, longer, and wider two-span concrete structure. The new bridge will be built immediately east of the existing bridge and will feature 8-foot shoulders with bike lanes, along with a separate 5-foot-wide pedestrian pathway.
Throughout construction, the bridge will remain open to traffic, although speed limits may be reduced to improve safety within the construction zone. At times, shoulders and bike lanes may be closed, requiring bicyclists to share the roadway with vehicles. Once the new bridge is completed and opened to traffic, the existing bridge will be demolished.
For now, the community’s beloved bear will watch over the project from its temporary home, awaiting its return to greet residents and visitors entering Los Osos for years to come.
