Fire Island Inlet Bridge
Encyclopedia
Robert Moses Causeway
The Robert Moses Causeway is an long parkway in Suffolk County, New York. The parkway, originally known as the Captree Causeway, connects West Islip on Long Island to the barrier beach islands, such as Captree Island, Jones Beach Island, and the western tip of Fire Island, to the south. It is...
, is a two-lane, steel arch span with a concrete deck that carries Route 908 over Fire Island Inlet
Fire Island Inlet
Fire Island Inlet is an inlet on the south shore of Long Island, New York, USA.It connects the Great South Bay with the Atlantic Ocean, passing between Robert Moses State Park on the south and Oak Beach and Captree State Park on the north.The inlet is directly south of West Islip, the nearest...
.
Construction of the Fire Island Bridge was completed in 1964 and although a relatively young structure, (less than 40-years old), its concrete deck has suffered from severe chloride ingress resulting in cracks, spalling, and the formation of potholes.
The Fire Island Inlet span of the Robert Moses Causeway connects to Robert Moses State Park
Robert Moses State Park (Long Island)
Robert Moses State Park - Long Island is a state park that is located in the state of New York.The park lies in southern Suffolk County on the western end of Fire Island, one of the central barrier Islands off the southern coast of Long Island...
on the western tip of Fire Island.
The Fire Island Inlet Bridge is located south of the State Boat Channel Bridge
State Boat Channel Bridge
State Boat Channel Bridge is a Suffolk County, New York Bascule bridge that crosses over the Long Island New York State Boat Channel connecting Captree Island and Jones Beach island on Robert Moses Causeway in Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, Babylon, NY.This 665-foot-long bascule bridge, meets the Ocean...
, a 665 feet (202.7 m) long bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
modeled after Brooklyn's Mill Basin Drawbridge.
The Fire Island Inlet
Fire Island Inlet
Fire Island Inlet is an inlet on the south shore of Long Island, New York, USA.It connects the Great South Bay with the Atlantic Ocean, passing between Robert Moses State Park on the south and Oak Beach and Captree State Park on the north.The inlet is directly south of West Islip, the nearest...
span cost $10 million to complete and opened to traffic on June 13, 1964. By 1985, a dual span was supposed to be built to alleviate traffic; the second bridge proposal was never implemented.
Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge
The Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge in New York City is a vertical lift bridge that crosses Rockaway Inlet and connects the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, with Marine Parkway to Floyd Bennett Field, Flatbush Avenue, and the Marine Park neighborhood in Brooklyn...
. The design was changed to conform with that of the Great South Bay Bridge
Great South Bay Bridge
Great South Bay Bridge is a bridge connecting the Robert Moses Causeway from Long Island's mainland over the Great South Bay, connecting to both Captree and Jones Beach Islands on the southwest central side of Long Island New York....
, a 600 feet (182.9 m) steel-arch span with a 60 feet (18.3 m) clearance.
In 2004, the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
began studies on the Fire Island Inlet span after the realization that it was rapidly decomposing due to flaws in the cement during its construction. A 5 short ton weight restriction was enforced by local police until permanent repairs could be made.
Currently repairs are being undertaken to extend the life and safety of the bridge; groundbreaking for a new bridge is expected in 2010. It is assumed that the new bridge will be built to the west of the current structure; the new span will be four lanes, two southbound and two northbound. The new Fire Island Bridge will keep the look of the old one for aesthetic conformity with the other bridges over the bay.
