Long Island’s infrastructure landscape is set for a major transformation with the awarding of the Smith Point Bridge project to Posillico. As the only vehicular access point to the easternmost beaches of Fire Island, this bridge plays a critical role in regional mobility, tourism, and public safety. Road Warriors spoke with the Posillico team about what this milestone means, the engineering challenges ahead, and the people driving the project forward.
This project has been years in the making. From your perspective, what makes the Smith Point Bridge a uniquely important project—for the region, for the industry, and for your team?
The Smith Point Bridge is truly unique in its regional impact. It provides the only vehicular access to the easternmost portion of Fire Island’s beaches—an area that sees tremendous activity during the summer season, not only from beachgoers but also from campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Ensuring reliable access is vital to the local economy, public safety operations, and the overall visitor experience.
One of the most transformative aspects of the project is the replacement of the existing bascule bridge with a new fixed span offering 55 feet of vertical clearance over the navigation channel. This improvement will significantly enhance traffic flow in two ways: eliminating vehicular delays caused by bridge openings and improving marine navigation beneath the structure. It’s a long-term solution that benefits both road and waterway users.
From an industry standpoint, the timing of this project is especially meaningful. With limited heavy civil construction currently underway on Long Island, the Smith Point Bridge will generate substantial craft labor opportunities over the next three years. It represents a significant investment in the region’s infrastructure and workforce.
For Posillico, the project aligns perfectly with our capabilities. We are uniquely positioned to self-perform much of the work, leveraging our in-house expertise in roadway construction, marine support, pile driving, trestle construction, and cast-in-place concrete. That level of self-performance allows us to maintain tight control over safety, quality, and schedule—critical components for a project of this magnitude.
What are the most interesting or complex elements of the engineering and construction approach on this project, and how is your team tackling them?
The complexity of this project lies largely in its logistics. Construction activities will occur simultaneously from both land and water, requiring meticulous coordination. Major components—including precast piles, precast piers, cap beams, girders, and the cast-in-place deck slab—must be delivered, staged, and erected in a highly controlled sequence.
Adding to the challenge are permit-imposed environmental work windows. No pile driving or cofferdam operations are permitted from January 1 through May 31, and dredging is prohibited from January 1 through September 30. These restrictions affect not only the construction of the new bridge but also the demolition of the existing structure. Careful schedule development and proactive planning are essential to ensure productivity during allowable periods.
The shallow water depths in the channel present another significant challenge. To facilitate material hauling and crane access, Posillico will construct approximately 500 linear feet of trestle on the north side and 630 linear feet on the south side. Because the trestles are permitted at only 40 feet in width, coordination becomes critical. The size of the cranes required to set heavy precast members limits the usable space to essentially a single travel lane. Every equipment move, delivery, and lift must be precisely timed and communicated to avoid congestion and maintain safe operations.
This level of complexity underscores the importance of detailed planning, daily coordination meetings, and constant communication between field crews, marine operations, and project management.
Major infrastructure projects don’t build themselves. Who are the key players on your team, and what does collaboration look like on a project of this scale?
The timing of the award aligned well for Posillico. As several large in-progress projects began winding down, we were able to assemble a highly skilled and experienced team for Smith Point.
Collaboration began long before construction. During the bidding phase, we brought together our specialty personnel in pile driving and marine logistics, along with key members of the future project team. That early integration ensured that the execution plan was fully developed—with direct input and buy-in from the professionals who will be carrying out the work in the field.
The Posillico project management team includes:
- Paul Huffer, VP Long Island Civil Division Manager
- Chad Grieco, Project Executive
- Christopher Hurst, Senior Project Manager
- Nick Iaboni, Senior Project Manager
- Vinny Saulino, Project Superintendent
- Bobby Hutzler, General Superintendent
- Mike DiNapoli, Marine Division Manager
Each brings deep expertise in heavy civil and marine construction, and together they form a leadership structure designed to support seamless coordination between office and field operations.
As construction progresses, that culture of collaboration will remain central. Daily communication, cross-division coordination, and a shared commitment to safety and quality will guide every phase of the project. Our goal is straightforward: deliver a bridge that serves Long Island for generations—completed safely, on time, and on budget.
With engineering ingenuity, logistical precision, and a unified team behind it, the Smith Point Bridge project represents more than a replacement structure. It is a strategic investment in Long Island’s future—and a testament to what can be achieved when expertise and collaboration meet opportunity.