A major bridge in the Town of Southampton has been closed until further notice after an inspection. The Ponquogue Bridge, which connects Hampton Bays to Dune Road, was shut down to both drivers and pedestrians following the discovery of deterioration in the concrete girders.

Crews have swiftly set up barricades to prevent access. The Friday closure comes after a routine inspection carried out by the State Department of Transportation on Thursday, which found the damage. Officials emphasized that the shutdown was a precautionary measure.

It remains unclear why there was a delay of one day between the inspection and the closure. The Ponquogue Bridge was last inspected in October 2024.

While no official timeline for repairs has been provided, residents are worried about the impact on their daily routines. Drivers who regularly use the bridge expressed relief that the issue was discovered before any potential accidents occurred.

“It’s just scary to think we’ve been riding over it,” said George Shulman, a Hampton Bays resident. “Hope they escalate the issue so they do it quickly — but you want them to do it right.”

Suffolk County is responsible for maintaining the Ponquogue Bridge, but so far, county officials have given little additional information.

The official message is clear, however: the bridge is closed, and people are advised to use alternate routes for the time being.