Smith Point Bridge construction to start, but costs rise to $150M

Construction of a new Smith Point Bridge in Shirley is expected to start this spring as repairs continue on the existing bridge with a goal of reopening to two lanes by Memorial Day, according to Suffolk County officials.

Plans for a new bridge date back a decade, when county officials said the existing structure was at the end of its design life. After facing a series of delays, including design changes and  environmental issues, the new 1,812-foot bridge connecting the South Shore to Fire Island and the county's flagship oceanfront park, will replace the existing structure, which was built in 1959.

 The latest estimates peg the construction cost at nearly $150 million, more than double the initial projected cost a decade ago, according to a funding resolution before the Suffolk County Legislature. 

Posillico, a Farmingdale-based construction contractor, was awarded the bid to build the new span designed by Hardesty & Hanover, a Melville-based engineering firm. Seven contractors responded to the county’s request for bids on the project, according to a document from the county’s Department of Public Works.

"I think it's going to be very exciting," said Legis. James Mazzarella (R-Moriches), whose district includes Shirley. "I mean, not everyone gets to actually see a new bridge built in their lifetime."

Mike Martino, a spokesman for County Executive Edward P. Romaine, said in an email that construction of the new bridge will begin "in the next several weeks." He said tens of thousands of beachgoers and campers visit the park each year.

The estimated completion date is summer of 2029.

Travelers to Smith Point County Park will continue to use the existing bridge during construction and officials expect no major disruptions to traffic.

In November, county officials announced a 3-ton weight restriction on the current bridge after a state inspection "revealed structural deterioration." The weight limit was set back to 15 tons less than two weeks later after Romaine signed an executive order to expedite funding for repairs.

A one-way traffic pattern, however, remains five months later, leading to concerns among campers and beachgoers of heavy traffic delays.

"The county’s department of public works is working diligently to repair the damage to the Smith Point Bridge, a result of years of neglect under prior administrations, to ensure the safety of every person who will cross the bridge," Martino said.

Mazzarella said the goal is for repairs on the existing bridge to be done by Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer and the park's busy season. The repairs would allow the bridge to return to two-lane traffic, he said.

In a statement, Romaine said, "We are doing everything we can to have the bridge open for the summer season."

A resolution to appropriate funds toward the new bridge is on the agenda for the legislature’s Public Works Committee meeting on April 13. The Department of Public Works' commissioner requested additional funds "due to the rising material and labor costs," according to the resolution.

The legislation will allow for an additional $20 million in bonds. Funding for the bridge came from a combination of federal, state and county money.

The new bridge is expected to have a 75-year service life and will feature a protected pedestrian and bicycle path. The bridge will be made up of 11 spans each 165 feet long, according to the county.

It will be a fixed bridge as opposed to the current drawbridge, which forces traffic to pause when a large boat passes. A drawbridge can lead to more problems and maintenance costs due to moving parts.

The new bridge, whose design county officials unveiled in 2023 under the prior administration, will be elevated to more than 55 feet, allowing marine traffic to safely navigate underneath.

In 2016, officials estimated the cost of a new bridge at $60 million with construction slated to begin in 2021, Newsday reported at the time. By 2023, when officials unveiled the latest design, which includes a fishing pier and pedestrian path, the estimate had ballooned to $112 million. As recently as late 2025, the estimated construction cost was $123.4 million.

When the current bridge opened in July 1959, Newsday reported the cost totaled $2.5 million with an additional $1 million for parking facilities, a pavilion and road work. Robert Moses, then the Long Island state park commissioner, joined county officials during a ceremony to open the bridge for what was the first highway link on Long Island to Fire Island. 

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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