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Updated story:
Two Long Island assemblymen are urging the state to fast-track long-planned repairs to the Robert Moses Causeway Bridge over the Fire Island Inlet after a viral video showed a gaping hole in the roadway that forced emergency closures.
Assemblymen Michael Durso (R-Massapequa Park) and Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville) are calling on the state Department of Transportation to move up the bridge’s full rehabilitation, which is currently scheduled to begin in fall 2027 and wrap up in spring 2028, according to a joint press release.
The renewed push comes after footage circulated online last week showing a hole in the bridge deck large enough to see the water below, stopping drivers and prompting emergency repairs before the span could safely reopen to traffic, the release states.
Watch:
“You don’t slap patches on a bridge and hope for the best — you fix it the right way,” Durso said in the release. “NYSDOT needs to expedite a full repair instead of relying on short-term fixes for two years, because when it comes to safety, there’s no room for shortcuts.”
In a Feb. 24 letter to NYSDOT Regional Director Richard B. Causin, the lawmakers referenced “significant erosion damage discovered on the bridge deck last week” and formally requested that the department review the project timeline and “take all feasible steps to expedite its commencement and completion,” according to a copy of the letter.
While acknowledging the department’s “prompt response” in making emergency repairs and reopening the bridge, the legislators wrote that waiting until 2027 to begin construction could allow further deterioration and create additional safety hazards, traffic disruptions or closures.
The Fire Island Inlet Bridge serves as a key connection between mainland communities and Robert Moses State Park, providing access to Fire Island and supporting the region’s tourism-driven economy, the release states.
In their letter, Durso and Gandolfo described it as “a vital piece of our local infrastructure” and “a gateway to so much of what makes Long Island a special place to call home.”
Gandolfo said that while he appreciates the emergency work, the sight of pavement eroding to the point that drivers could see water below underscores the need to move the full rehabilitation up to 2026.
“We respectfully ask that you begin this critical project in 2026 instead,” the lawmakers wrote, adding that doing so would help ensure the bridge’s continued structural integrity, protect public safety and restore public confidence in the infrastructure.
The pair said they stand ready to work with state DOT and state leadership to help expedite the project.
Greater Long Island has reached out to the DOT’s local representative for a response.
Click the button below to read the joint letter in full:
Top: The inlet span of the Robert Moses Causeway leads to the park and Fire Island. (GLI file photo/Nick Esposito) Inset: The gaping hole from the viral video referenced by the lawmakers. (Credit: Screenshot/Embedded News 12 Long Island video appears in its entirety above.
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