The Suffolk County Department of Public Works has announced that construction is expected to begin in mid-2024 on a replacement for the Smith Point Bridge in Shirley.

The Smith Point Bridge has been a popular gateway to Fire Island since it was first built on July 4, 1969. Suffolk County officials say they have the green light from the federal government to get rid of the 63-year-old bridge and build a new one.

According to Suffolk County, the new bridge will be a fixed bridge and have a 55-foot vertical clearance. There will be a more than 300-foot-long, handicap-accessible fishing pier underneath the bridge and an overlook along the bridge.

The project will also include new recreational courts and bathrooms at Smith County Park.

County officials say the Smith Point Bridge has stood for many years beyond its original life design.

In 2019, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone told News 12, “This is one of our most important parks and recreational assets. It is a gateway to Fire Island National seashore as well. And because this is a bridge that not only needs repair, needs replacement."

Back then, Bellone said the new bridge project would likely start in 2021. Now construction on the new bridge is expected to start in the middle of 2024 and open in 2027.

Since it's going to be a couple of years before you see any signs of construction, county officials say the old bridge will stay up and accessible while the new one is being built.