H&H is serving as lead designer for the Smith Point Bridge replacement in Suffolk County, NY, that carries William Floyd Parkway (CR 46) over Narrow Bay in the town of Brookhaven. The bridge, a double-leaf, bascule bridge designed by H&H in the 1950s, was reaching the end of its service life due to the harsh oceanfront environment. The bridge serves as the sole access route to the eastern end of Fire Island and is the route to Smith Point County Park as well as Fire Island National Seashore.
H&H assessed multiple alternates, which included various rehabilitation alternatives for the existing bridge and several off-line high-level fixed bridge alternatives. The preferred alternate replaces the bascule bridge with a high-level fixed bridge on a westerly alignment that touched down in an underutilized Smith Point County Park area.
The proposed bridge will be a 1,800-foot-long prestressed concrete structure featuring an ADA-compliant shared-use path. It will offer a 55.6-foot vertical clearance over a 100-foot-wide navigation channel, ensuring safe and efficient marine passage.
The design process included a comprehensive assessment of site-specific conditions and extensive coordination with key stakeholders, including Suffolk County Parks, the National Park Service, NYSDOT, the local community, and various utility providers. Environmental permitting will be required from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Because the original bridge was eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, a Memorandum of Agreement was executed with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to address preservation requirements.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.
