Smith Point Bridge Traffic Shift Starts Monday

Motorists heading toward Smith Point Bridge will encounter a new traffic pattern beginning Monday, September 21st, as construction of the new bridge moves into its next phase.

Traffic between Smith Point Marina and the bridge will be shifted onto the northbound lanes of William Floyd Parkway, with one lane carrying vehicles in each direction.

The west side of the parkway in the construction area will be closed to regular traffic, allowing construction vehicles to safely enter and exit the project’s staging area. Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella said motorists will still have two-way access through the area despite the shift.

“We're going to be pushing traffic off to the east side of the road,” Mazzarella said. “So essentially traffic is going to go in both directions on the east side.”

Mazzarella said closing the west side is necessary “in order to get construction vehicles in and out and to maintain safety of our motorists.”

Drivers will return to the normal traffic configuration once they reach and pass the toll plaza near Smith Point Bridge.

“There are digital signs further north on William Floyd Parkway announcing the fact that there's a change in the traffic pattern,” Mazzarella said.

The traffic shift is part of ongoing work on the new Smith Point Bridge, a major infrastructure project designed to replace the existing span connecting the mainland with Smith Point County Park and Fire Island.

Officials are urging motorists who regularly travel through the area to pay attention to posted signs, changing lane configurations and construction vehicles entering and leaving the work zone.

“You're going to still have two lanes of traffic, but both those lanes of traffic are going to be on the east side here, and the west side will be closed,” Mazzarella said.

County officials said the temporary configuration is necessary to keep traffic moving while providing crews with safe access to continue construction on the new bridge.