Hampton Bays business owner worries closed Ponquogue Bridge will impact his livelihood
The Ponquoge Bridge was suddenly closed to cars and pedestrians Friday after a Department of Transportation crew's routine inspection found the concrete girders were deteriorating.
A business owner in the Hampton Bays is worrying about economic impacts that the closure of the Ponquogue Bridge will have on his livelihood.
The Ponquoge Bridge was suddenly closed to cars and pedestrians Friday after a Department of Transportation crew's routine inspection found the concrete girders were deteriorating.
“This is actually a lifeline for not only Hampton Bays -- this is a lifeline for the Hamptons and Long Island as well," said John Capuano, of Hampton Bays.
Now that the Ponquogue Bridge is closed in Hampton Bays, Capuano wonders how it will affect the area if it stays closed in the warmer months.
“Not only to the people trying to enjoy the area but the economics of all the businesses in town: The pizza parlors, the motels, they're just not going to have the business," he said.
Capuano is the captain of the Shinnecock Star, a daily fishing boat in Hampton Bays. He says if the bridge doesn’t open by the spring, his business will be impacted.
The Shinnecock Commercial Fishing Station is one of the busiest in New York.
“Beginning of April, if that doesn’t happen...I have my boat, but then people can’t get to my boat," Capuano said.
Ryan Murphy, with Town of Southampton Public Safety and Emergency Management, says engineers are evaluating the data they found. He says, hopefully, they'll have a better sense of the path forward early this coming week.
As of Sunday night, there was no official word on when the Ponquogue Bridge will be open again, or what the timeline is for its repairs.
“Safety first. Safety always comes first but we have to get on this project really quickly for the community and for Long Island," Capuano said.
Officials say they know the bridge being closed impacts traffic and the fishing industry. They say they are hopeful for a partial or full reopening sooner rather than later.
