New restrictions have been placed on the Smith Point Bridge after an inspection revealed structural deterioration, prompting an immediate three-ton weight limit. The reduction, ordered by the state Department of Transportation following a routine review, will remain in place as engineers study the condition of the 65-year-old span.
The new restriction comes as the long-awaited replacement of the bridge faces a year-long delay. The postponement stems from design modifications—including a handicap-accessible fishing pier, an observation area beneath the span, and a 12-foot-wide shared-use path—that require additional state and federal approvals.
“Following a routine inspection conducted by the NYSDOT that revealed structural deterioration, Suffolk County will post the Smith Point Bridge with a maximum three-ton weight limit for trucks effective immediately and until further notice,” Legislator Jim Mazzarella said in a statement.
“The Department of Public Works is coordinating closely with the New York State Department of Transportation to conduct a more in-depth analysis and determine all available options to safely raise the load rating,” the statement continued. “This temporary restriction comes as Suffolk County continues its ongoing planning for the construction of a new bridge to ensure long-term safety and reliability for residents and visitors.”
Hardesty & Hanover, the firm that designed the original 1959 drawbridge, is engineering the new structure, estimated to cost $126.5 million. The 1,600-foot prestressed concrete span, similar to the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays, will feature ADA-compliant sidewalks, bicycle-friendly shoulders, and a 55-foot navigation clearance, eliminating the need for a drawbridge. Portions of the existing span will remain as a fishing pier.
Residents aren’t happy about the situation. “What happened to the replacement?” wondered Kenneth Harkin. “Everything was moving then NOTHING. They literally built a dock and a ferry to work on the windmill project while the bridge replacement is in limbo.”