Smith Point Bridge In Shirley Closed With Weight Restriction On Sunday

SHIRLEY, NY — The bridge to Smith Point County Park in Shirley was under weight restriction on Sunday.

A routine inspection conducted by the state's Department of Transportation revealed structural deterioration, and officials posted the bridge with a maximum three-ton weight limit for trucks, "effective immediately and until further notice," county spokesman Michael Martino said Sunday afternoon in a statement to Patch.

The Department of Public Works is "coordinating closely with the state to conduct a more in-depth analysis and determine all available options to safely raise the load rating," he added.

This temporary restriction comes as the county continues its ongoing plans for the construction of a new bridge "to ensure long-term safety and reliability for residents and visitors," according to Martino.

A DOT spokesman could not immediately comment on Sunday.

At around 1:30 p.m., visitors to the popular oceanfront beach were told to check their registrations for the weight of their vehicles, and if they were over, they would not be able to traverse the bridge that crosses from the bay side to the ocean side.

The weight allowed on the bridge is 3 tons, according to a sign at the start of the bridge.

The bridge was erected in the 1950s at the end of William Floyd Parkway, joining the south shore of Shirley with Fire Island National Seashore and Smith Point County Park.

Suffolk County officials have closed the bridge at different points, such as during big storms, like Superstorm Sandy, and sometimes, in conjunction with the closure of the outer beach, which is popular to campers.

The news of the weight restriction came for some just before 2 p.m. on Sunday — close to high tide — and a time when, normally, visitors, including beachcombers and board-walkers, as well as fishermen and surfers, are seen driving by or parking briefly to check conditions. The park, like other open areas around the county, was also expected to draw stargazers set on seeing the expected meteor shower later tonight.

Instead, some visitors had to turn around, park, and walk over the bridge to access the popular spot.

At what is usually a peak time for traffic, the beach's parking lot was nearly empty with only two cars.

The bridge was identified for work by the state's engineers in 2022, and there are plans to build a new one with a multi-purpose walkway that can be used by walkers, bikers, and fishermen alike.

The new bridge is expected to have a 55-foot vertical clearance, and could include new recreational courts and bathrooms for the park.