State awards contract to rebuild three aging East End bridges
Two East End bridges already closed in Amagansett and Eastport will be rebuilt under a $51 million state contract, with work running into 2028.
A $51 million state contract will rebuild three East End bridges in Sagaponack, Amagansett and Eastport, and the project has pushed more traffic onto detours across the South Fork. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority awarded Contract 6532 to redesign and reconstruct the spans over the Long Island Rail Road Montauk Branch in East Hampton and Southampton.
The bridges — Sagg Road in Sagaponack, Cranberry Hole Road in Amagansett and River Avenue in Eastport — were built between 1895 and 1921. Cranberry Hole Road Bridge has been closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic since July 2023, and River Avenue Bridge was shut in early 2024 after structural deficiencies worsened.
The bridges are primarily timber structures that deteriorated significantly over time, and overweight vehicles traveling against posted weight restrictions added to the damage. For East End communities that rely on a handful of road crossings to reach jobs, school, deliveries and emergency services, the closures have already altered routine travel and increased pressure on nearby roads.
The procurement notice estimated the job at between $50 million and $100 million before the award was announced. The final project budget is $51 million, with design completion anticipated in January 2027, demolition expected to begin later in 2026 and full completion targeted for July 2028.
The work will include demolition of the existing bridges, new bridge structures, retaining walls, roadway reconstruction at the approaches and drainage improvements. The new spans are being designed to meet current roadway, structural and railroad clearance requirements. Trains will continue moving below the roadwork along the Montauk Branch while the replacements rise above it.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the project is part of the state’s wider infrastructure push, while MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said replacement of aging infrastructure is central to the agency’s capital program. Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said the rebuild will strengthen the local road network and help preserve service to and from the East End.
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