North Haven Bridge Hearing

Mayor Pierce Hance had a succinct message for those who attended Tuesday's Sag Harbor Village Board meeting: See you next Wednesday.

That is the day the State Department of Transportation will host a public hearing to hear comments about its plan to replace the Sag Harbor-North Haven Bridge.

"There is broad support for maintaining the bridge as is," Mr. Hance said. "It will be standing room only, I hope."

The D.O.T. has issued a report outlining several different options for replacing the bridge. These include building an expanse parallel to the current span, either to the north or the south (and tearing down the current bridge once the new one is completed), and building in the same location.

Move Bridge?

Moving the bridge north or south has the advantage of allowing the existing span to be used while the new one is being built. However, such a move is widely opposed by residents because it would require the sacrifice of existing parkland and wetlands.

Whatever the location, the new span would be about 13 feet wider than the existing one to meet current D.O.T. requirements and to provide wider shoulders for bikers. Moreover, the D.O.T. wants to build a span that could accommodate increased speed limits of 45 to 50 miles per hour - though it says the speed limit wouldn't necessarily be raised from the current 30 miles per hour.

A two-village task force chaired by Gayle Pickering recommended that a new bridge be constructed where the current one is - by tearing half of it down at a time - and that the current 30-mile-per-hour speed limit be retained. That seems to be the general sentiment of Sag Harbor and North Haven residents.

Rerouting Traffic

Under such a plan, traffic would be rerouted to Brick Kiln and Noyac Roads during the construction time, estimated to be as much as two years. However, access over the bridge for emergency vehicles would be permitted.

The possibility of raising the speed limit has been roundly opposed by the Village Board. Mr. Hance expressed concern about endangering pedestrian traffic to and from Long Wharf at the foot of the bridge.

The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in the Pierson High School auditorium.