Emergency repairs are underway on the Smith Point Bridge in Suffolk County as officials race to fix structural deterioration ahead of the summer beach season.

Residents express concern about safety but also appreciation for upcoming improvements, with voices like Gunter Glinka, Mary Taylor, and Pete McCann weighing in.

Traffic is currently reduced to one alternate open lane, with hopes to restore two-lane traffic by Memorial Day.

Next year, the Fire Island Inlet Bridge to Robert Moses State Park is slated for roadway repairs after a hole was discovered.

Nearby structures face scrutiny as well, including the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays, which carries a five-ton limit after a temporary shutdown and is slated for rehabilitation this summer.

Suffolk County plans to replace the Smith Point Bridge with a new structure costing over $100 million, to be built alongside the existing bridge, with construction starting soon and a target completion in 2029; the current bridge will remain open during construction.

Residents and officials describe the repairs as long overdue and note the impact on thousands of summer travelers.