Video Shows Hole in Road on Bridge
By Hank Russell
Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Blakeman blasted Governor Kathy Hochul for failing to maintain New York’s aging infrastructure after an alarming video revealed a large hole in the roadway of the state-owned Fire Island Inlet Bridge.
“This is a wake-up call,” Blakeman said. “New Yorkers should not be driving over bridges that are literally falling apart because Kathy Hochul has neglected core infrastructure while spending billions on illegal migrants and a bailout for [New York City] Mayor Zohran Mamdani.”
Blakeman noted that Long Island’s share of state transportation funding has fallen from nearly 24% historically to well under 15% today — even as vehicle registrations and travel demand continue to rise. In inflation-adjusted terms, state highway investment on Long Island has dropped by more than 50% from peak levels.
“This is not just a Long Island problem — it’s a symptom of Hochul’s broader failure to prioritize basic infrastructure across New York,” Blakeman continued. “Our roads, bridges, and highways are essential to public safety, emergency response, and economic stability.”
Blakeman also renewed his support for the reintroduction of the State Highway Improvement Program (SHIPs), which would provide predictable, flexible funding directly to local governments so they can address critical needs before they become emergencies. The program would deliver an additional $31.25 million annually for Long Island municipalities and similar support for communities across the state.
“SHIPs is a commonsense solution that empowers local officials to fix problems proactively and cost-effectively instead of waiting for dangerous failures,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman said that as governor, he would direct the Department of Transportation to conduct immediate inspections of vulnerable bridges and roadways and restore fair, sustained infrastructure investment statewide.
“New Yorkers pay too much in taxes to drive on unsafe roads and bridges,” Blakeman concluded. “This situation demands immediate action — not studies, not excuses, but shovels in the ground and funding where it’s needed most.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the Hochul campaign, but did not hear back as of press time.