MASTIC BEACH – The Smith Point Bridge, the only roadway connecting Mastic Beach and the mainland to Smith Point on Fire Island, is one step closer to returning to normal traffic patterns as Suffolk County officials continue both short-term repairs and long-term plans for a brand-new bridge.
At the end of 2025, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) announced that a routine inspection conducted by the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) resulted in an emergency three-ton weight restriction being placed on the bridge due to structural concerns. The restriction was later increased to fifteen tons after Suffolk County implemented a temporary one-lane traffic pattern and installed traffic signals to safely maintain access to Smith Point County Park.
At the time, County officials explained that portions of the bridge’s pre-stressed cables inside the reinforced concrete beams had become exposed and weakened over time, prompting emergency repair work and renewed urgency surrounding long-discussed replacement plans.
Now, Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) confirmed that the New York State DOT has officially approved the repair plans currently underway on the existing bridge. According to Mazzarella, repair work began several weeks ago and includes installing steel reinforcements to restore the bridge to normal two-way vehicular traffic.
“Construction of the new bridge is expected to break ground this summer, but no date is available as yet,” Mazzarella told The Messenger.
Mazzarella noted that the repairs to the current bridge and the construction of the future replacement bridge are being treated as two entirely separate projects. While repairs continue on the current structure to safely carry traffic through the busy summer months, plans are also moving forward for the long-awaited new bridge.
Once construction begins, the project is expected to take approximately 30 months to complete. After traffic is officially shifted onto the new bridge, demolition of the existing bridge will begin, a process expected to take an additional year.
The upcoming bridge replacement project is expected to cost between $135 million and $150 million. Funding for the project will be split between the federal government and Suffolk County, with the federal government covering 80% of the cost and Suffolk County funding the remaining 20%.
In 2025, Romaine stressed the importance of addressing aging infrastructure before conditions worsen, calling the Smith Point Bridge one of Suffolk County’s most critical transportation links due to the heavy traffic heading into Smith Point County Park, especially during the summer season.
With repair work continuing and plans for the new bridge finally moving forward, County officials remain focused on ensuring safe and reliable access to Smith Point County Park ahead of the busy summer season. For the thousands of residents and visitors who travel across the bridge each year, the project marks a major step toward improving one of Suffolk County’s most heavily traveled coastal connections for generations to come.
