For more than half a century, the Smith Point Bridge has served as the gateway between mainland Suffolk County and the wild, windswept beauty of Fire Island. Its graceful arch has carried generations of beachgoers, fishermen, and families across Narrow Bay — and now, after decades of service, it’s making way for a new era.
Leading that transformation is Alex Prego, Chief Engineer at the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, who has overseen the planning and construction of the new Smith Point Bridge — a project that blends cutting-edge engineering with a deep respect for place and history. As the bridge rises over the bay, Prego reflects on the challenges, innovations, and meaning behind one of Long Island’s most significant public works efforts.
The Smith Point Bridge has been a lifeline for generations of Long Islanders. What’s the story behind its original construction, and what does it represent to you as an engineer overseeing its next chapter?
The Bay crossing at Smith Point, and Smith Point itself, has a very interesting history. In the 1680’s much of the area was owned by William “Tangier” Smith and the property remained a private estate beachfront for over 200 years. In the early 1900’s the developer Frederick Julius Quimby attempted to turn Smith Point into a beach resort and saw the need for land access to support his endeavor, so a number of wooden footbridges were built. The first bridge was completed in 1916 and even included a draw bridge section which, unfortunately, was quickly destroyed by an ice flow in 1917. Subsequent attempts with wooden footbridge continued through the early 1900’s with the last being washed away in the late 1920’s.
Starting in the 1950’s, Suffolk County started acquiring land at Smith Point culminating with a formal park designation in 1964 as part of the Fire Island Nation Seashore (FINS). To support this effort the County initiated construction of the current bridge in 1955 with construction completed and open to traffic on July 4, 1959. Since 1959 the bridge has served as a gateway to Smith Point Beach, Smith Point Camping areas, 4×4 vehicular Outer Beach access and the Otis Pike Fire Island Wilderness area for millions of visits for over sixty years.
Our design team, the Department of Public Works and Suffolk County feel a deep responsibility to honor that heritage. The new bridge is not just a replacement it is also an opportunity to enhance this vital connection. We are designing a structure with higher clearance for boats, a dedicated multi-use pedestrian/bicycle path, and improved resilience against storms and rising tides. Every beam, bolt and concrete column is chosen to ensure this bridge serves the community for generations to come, just like the original in 1959. We consider this to be a legacy project and a point of pride for the community.
This replacement has been on the County’s radar for years. What finally set the wheels in motion, and how has the vision for the new bridge evolved from those early discussions to the project taking shape today?
As the bridge approached its 60th year of operation it became clear it was nearing the end of its usable life. Several projects were completed to extend its life, but such rehabilitations became unsustainable and it was obvious a bridge replacement was the only viable option.
Designing for the South Shore isn’t easy — storms, salt air, shifting sands. What were some of the biggest engineering and logistical challenges your team faced in creating a structure built to stand up to those conditions?
Luckily the bridge is over the Great South Bay and protected from some of ocean coastal issues by Fire Island itself, however it still is a challenging environment. These challenges are being met with design elements such as deep concrete pile foundations, designing the bridge span high enough to eliminate the need of a movable section, and epoxy coated steel rebar.
Resiliency and sustainability have become more than buzzwords in modern infrastructure. How are those principles reflected in the materials, design, and construction of the new bridge?
The new design accounts for sea level rise and storm surge via deep piles and set back abutments which minimizes the need for armoring or modification of the bay bottom. The bridge will be constructed of concrete, not steel to minimize maintenance such as painting, and the pier columns and cap with be precast to ensure a long-lasting high-quality material, and epoxy coated rebar to resist corrosion. The inclusion of a multi-use path will also provide access for all modes of travel to and from Smith Point Park.
Anytime you build along Long Island’s coastline, there’s a delicate balance between progress and preservation. How did your team work to protect the surrounding environment and respect the character of Smith Point Park while moving the project forward?
The environmental review of the proposed design was extensive, especially at the south end of the bridge which is located along the National Seashore and near the Otis Pike Fire Island Wilderness area. The review of the project included a variety of elements such as wildlife habitat, Great South Bay Water Column impacts, Visual Impact Analysis (VIA), and wetland impacts to name a few. Due to its scale and sensitive setting, this project necessitated review and input from multiple agencies, such as the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Highway Administration, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Our minimization efforts included dark sky complaint and low temperature lighting, erosion control during construction, restoration of all construction areas, wetland restoration, visual shielding for the Otis Pike Wilderness area, and reduction of deck joints to reduce detectable noise.
When the new Smith Point Bridge finally opens, what do you hope people will feel as they cross it for the first time — beyond the convenience of a smoother, safer drive?
Smith Point Park is considered by many to be the “jewel” among Suffolk County Parks and we hope as users traveling to and from the park, they feel the same way about the bridge and perceive the bridge as an enhancement to their visit and possibly even a destination itself.
As the new Smith Point Bridge begins construction, it stands as more than a vital infrastructure upgrade — it’s a tribute to endurance, innovation, and community. What began as a mid-century marvel will soon be reborn as a modern icon, designed to weather the next hundred years of tides, traffic, and time. For Alex Prego and his team at the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, it’s not just about connecting two shores — it’s about honoring the generations who’ve crossed before and building a bridge worthy of those still to come.