Suffolk County to repair Smith Point Bridge

Suffolk County will spend $5.2 million to extend the life of the Smith Point Bridge, which connects Mastic Beach and Fire Island, until the aging span can be replaced, officials said Sunday.

Finished in 1959, the bridge has already eclipsed the 50-year life span that engineers estimate for such structures, County Executive Steve Levy said. Saltwater has damaged the 1,220 foot bridge, he said, and corrosion, concrete and drawbridge repairs are needed, as well as fresh paint.

Though not in danger of a sudden collapse, officials said the project has been a priority in the county's capital program for several years. Levy said the work should give the bridge another decade of life.

"At some point we may be looking at a total replacement," he said. "But that would be a huge undertaking, somewhere around $60 million."

The county issued a bond to cover the cost of the project, and officials said federal money will have to be secured when the time comes for an entirely new structure.

Levy said work should begin in January or February and last about 18 months. Levy spokesman Dan Aug said there may be infrequent closures of about 15 minutes that will prevent boaters and drivers from passing under or over the bridge, but those will take place mostly during off-peak hours and winter months.

Also Sunday, Levy unveiled a new fishing pier at Smith Point County Park. The 12-foot wide, 150-feet long pier was completed in October and cost about $560,000, Aug said. The county had long wanted to build the pier to satisfy residents who sought new ways to enjoy Narrow Bay, he said.

The pier has a solar-powered lighting system and a 27-foot covered section where anglers can take shelter from the elements.

The structure complies with federal laws about access for people with disabilities, Aug said, and can be used by those in wheelchairs.