Weakened stress cables prompted Suffolk officials to further limit access across the Smith Point Bridge.

"The stress cables that are inside the reinforced concrete beam, some of those have been exposed and are wearing and are no longer holding the strength that they were originally designed to be back in the 50s," said Alexander Prego, Suffolk DPW chief engineer.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine signed an emergency executive order to immediately add new steel cables to reinforce the failing system.

"Make improvements before this bridge is taken out of commission and the new bridge is open which we're starting construction as soon as we possibly can," Romaine said.

As News 12 reported, state DOT inspections of the county-owned bridge first triggered a 3-ton weight limit last week because of newly discovered structural issues.

Then this weekend officials limited traffic to a single lane.

Suffolk officials say the bridge remains safe to drive across with the one-lane-only restriction and the 15-ton weight limit.

"The bridge would not be open if we didn't feel that it was safe," said Leslie Mitchel, Suffolk DPW deputy commissioner.

They say construction on a new bridge should begin next year.

Officials would not say how much the new bridge will cost, but that it will take a few years to complete.

They hope the emergency work on the current bridge will be finished by the end of March.

News 12 is told the one lane restriction and 15 ton weight limit will remain in effect for the entirety of the emergency repairs.