Robert Moses Causeway Bridge gets a smoother ride, as repairs completed on key Suffolk bridges

Rehabilitation of two key Suffolk County bridges was completed on Friday, as part of an $8.7 million project, New York officials said.

Robert Moses Causeway over Ocean Parkway and the Great Neck Road, or Route 47, bridge over Sunrise Highway received extensive upgrades, including the replacement of bridge joints and bridge bearings, ensuring service for the next 50 years, according to a statement by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"Investing in infrastructure that enhances safety and keeps people and goods moving for many decades to come is essential to the future of Long Island and our state," Hochul said. "This project not only provided immediate upgrades to two bridges that are vital to travel on Long Island, but it will also ensure that these important crossings remain in service for another half century, fostering continued growth and prosperity for our local communities."

The bridge joints that traverse the road and cause bumps for vehicles were replaced with ultra-high-performance concrete to strengthen the structures with the hope of creating a smoother, safer ride for motorists, officials said.

Repairs were also made to the steel girders and concrete supports to enhance their long-term durability. Both built in the 1960s, the bridges serve tens of thousands of Long Island motorists a day, Hochul said.

The Robert Moses Causeway is a major access route to Robert Moses State Park, Jones Beach, Gilgo State Park and the fishing docks at Captree State Park, while Great Neck Road connects businesses, homes, parks and schools in North Amityville and Copiague and provides a pedestrian crossing over Sunrise Highway for Copiague’s high school and middle school.

The announcement comes days after Hochul said projects to resurface sections of Northern State Parkway and other Long Island roads, including key stretches of Sunrise Highway and Route 25, began this week as part of a $36.2 million road revitalization and safety project.

Additionally, the governor said the state had begun a $17.7 million revitalization project that would see crews "mill and resurface" more than 60 lane miles in Suffolk. 

An NYSDOT report to the State Legislature showed that 63% of state-owned lane-miles were in good or excellent condition on Long Island in 2023 — compared with an average of 57% statewide. However, 82% of state-owned lane- miles on Long Island were in good or excellent condition in 2017.

Newsday has reported that Long Island roads under local jurisdiction are, as a whole, in worse condition that similar local roads statewide.