MTA to repair three aging East End bridges

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will spend up to $51 million to replace three damaged roadway bridges that hang over the Long Island Rail Road’s Montauk Branch track, state officials said Tuesday.

The Sagg Road bridge in Sagaponack, Cranberry Hole Road bridge in Amagansett and River Avenue bridge in Eastport will all be reconstructed as a part of the MTA's capital project program. The Cranberry Hole Road and River Avenue bridges have been closed since July 2023 and early 2024, respectively, due to structural deficiencies, while the Sagg Road bridge is restricted to loads under 5 tons, according to a news release.

The MTA board recently approved a $36.6 million contract for the project, according to MTA documents. RCC/GCCOM A Joint Venture LLC will design and build the project. The entity is a joint venture between Railroad Construction Company, Inc. and GCCOM Construction Company, Inc.

The total budget is $51 million, which also includes work being undertaken directly by the MTA in support of the project, an agency spokesperson said.

The project is scheduled to be complete by July 2028, with demolition starting later this year, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul's office.

"It's no secret that our traffic problems are challenging and that the Long Island Rail Road link is underutilized," Assemb. Tommy John Schiavoni (D-Sag Harbor), who represents the South Fork, said in an interview. "I'm very happy to see this kind of investment on the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, as we seek to gain more train service to help alleviate traffic."

The railroad is "crucial for transportation" on the South Fork, he said. The Cranberry Hole Road bridge in Amagansett is a "crucial link to the northeast section of Amagansett and for emergency services, deliveries and quality of life," he added.

All three bridges are more than a century old, having been built between 1895 and 1921. They are primarily made of timber and have "significantly deteriorated over time" despite maintenance and temporary repairs, according to the governor's office. Their structural condition has been compromised by large vehicles traveling across the spans in violation of weight limits, the governor's office said.

The existing bridges will be replaced with new bridges that meet current roadway, structural and railroad clearing requirements, the governor's office said. The project also includes the construction of new retaining walls, upgraded roadways at bridge approaches and drainage improvements, the governor's office said.

"Credit to the MTA for stepping up and rebuilding these aging timber structures so that East End drivers will have modern, resilient bridges over LIRR tracks that will last for generations to come," Hochul said in a statement.

The LIRR has made several improvements to the Montauk Branch this summer, including the building of a second temporary platform at Hampton Bays that allows two trains to simultaneously unload passengers at the station.