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The Smith Point Bridge is getting an immediate weight restriction after a routine state inspection revealed structural deterioration, Suffolk County officials announced Sunday.
Effective right now, the bridge will carry a maximum three-ton limit for trucks, according to Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. Cars can continue to use the bridge under the new restriction.
County DPW is now working with the New York State Department of Transportation on a deeper evaluation of the structure to determine options to safely raise the load rating while longer-term plans advance.
“This is a temporary restriction,” Romaine said, noting that planning has already been underway for a full replacement of the aging span.
A new bridge is coming
The current Smith Point Bridge — a 1959 drawbridge that must open for boats crossing Narrows Bay — has been targeted for replacement for years.
The county is in the final design stages for a major new structure that will rise immediately west of the existing bridge. The old bridge will remain open throughout construction.
The planned replacement is a 1,812-foot arch bridge that would eliminate the need for drawbridge openings entirely. Key features include:
- 75-year service life
- Prestressed concrete beams and post-tensioned piers
- 11 spans, each about 165 feet long
- 55.6 feet of vertical clearance and 100 feet of horizontal channel clearance for marine traffic
- ADA-accessible pedestrian and bicycle path
- Better roadway alignments on both sides to improve traffic flow
Construction on the new bridge is expected to begin in 2026, with the current bridge staying in service until the project is complete.
Top: Smith Point Bridge at sunset
