Southern California residents near a major bridge detour may soon get some cleaner air at home — at no cost.
Caltrans is offering free HEPA air purifiers to people who could be impacted by increased vehicle emissions during the upcoming Vincent Thomas Bridge closure.
Eligible households in Wilmington, San Pedro and nearby communities along the affected detour routes can receive one Medify Air MA-40 purifier, plus three replacement filters, while supplies remain available.
The units are equipped with True HEPA H13 filtration, which is built to capture particles such as dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander and other pollutants in the air — products that typically sell for several hundred dollars.
The air purifier distribution is intended to help residents maintain better indoor air quality as construction pushes traffic onto local streets, potentially increasing pollution near homes.
To be eligible for the Caltrans air purifier giveaway, residents must live within 750 feet of an approved detour route or a possible alternate route.
The qualifying areas include portions of Pacific Coast Highway, Anaheim Street, Harry Bridges Boulevard, Alameda Street and Gaffey Street, as well as the East I Street interchange.
According to LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who shared the update on Instagram, Caltrans has sent postcards with unique registration codes to households believed to meet the eligibility requirements.
Residents must enter the code on the program’s website to confirm their address and reserve a purifier. They will then recieve an email with pickup details.
Proof of residency — such as official mail, a lease, rent receipt or school or work document — is required at pickup, though a photo ID is optional.
the program runs through June 2027, with a reservation and waitlist deadline of May 1.
