Modified Traffic Pattern to Be Implemented
By Hank Russell
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced precautionary measures are being implemented on the Ponquogue Bridge, which will allow the bridge to be opened to limited traffic the week of March 3.
There will be a new traffic pattern, which includes shifting the travel lanes eastward. This will be accomplished with lightweight barriers, traffic control barrels, and lane markings.
The Town of Southampton announced on February 21 that the bridge would be closed until further notice. “The Town was informed that, while NYS DOT [the New York State Department of Transportation] was conducting a routine inspection of the bridge on February 20, 2025, conditions were identified that have since resulted in the closing of the bridge,” the town stated. Motorists were then asked to find alternative routes to get to Dune Road.
Built in 1986 and stretching 2,812 feet over Shinnecock Bay in Hampton Bays, the Ponquogue Bridge carries two lanes of County Route 32 and connects Hampton Bays to the eastern end of Westhampton Island.
“The Ponquogue Bridge is critically important to emergency services, businesses, and local traffic, we needed to find a way to open the bridge as quickly as possible,” said Romaine. “Our county Department of Public Works has been working with the New York State Department of Transportation and a plan to immediately open the bridge has been designed.”
Under the guidelines set forth by the DOT, vehicles up to five tons, bicycles and pedestrians will be able to use the bridge. Special permits will be issued to ambulances up to 14,500 pounds.
Vehicles up to 20 tons can continue to use the Post Lane Bridge in Quogue and up to 40 tons can use the Beach Lane Bridge in Westhampton Beach.“Public safety is paramount, and we need to ensure our first responders can serve their communities,” said Romaine.
“The Suffolk County Department of Public Works is proceeding to engage an engineer on an emergency basis to design a permanent repair to return this bridge to its 40-ton capacity,” said Romaine. “In the interim, the New York will continue regular inspections to monitor any areas of concern.”