East Hampton Town to Replace 131-Year-Old Cranberry Hole Road Bridge

East Hampton Town will begin replacing the Cranberry Hole Road bridge in Amagansett this winter, a project estimated to cost between $20 million and $25 million. The 1895 timber structure, which has been closed to all traffic since July 2023, is slated for demolition, likely in December.

Town Councilman David Lys and Highway Superintendent Stephen Lynch inspected the site on Tuesday morning. The bridge was declared structurally deficient in part because drivers ignored the five-ton weight limit. Lynch noted that cement trucks, dump trucks, and even a modular home had crossed the span in recent years. The asphalt surface displayed long cracks that aligned with the wooden planks underneath.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) awarded the replacement contract earlier this year, which also covers bridges at Sagg Road in Sagaponack and River Avenue in Eastport. Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni told the Amagansett Citizens Advisory Committee last year that the total cost would fall within the $20 million to $25 million range. Work will take place on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the MTA planning to notify nearby property owners before starting.

The new infrastructure will feature a concrete span capable of holding 80,000 pounds, meeting current New York State Department of Transportation standards. The roadway width will increase from approximately 21 feet to 32 feet, adding space for pedestrians and ensuring ADA access. Construction crews will also install a new drainage system, leaching basins, and updated curbing and sidewalks on the approaches.

Lys emphasized that the new design accommodates future rail expansion. The MTA has budgeted hundreds of millions of dollars to add sidings to the Montauk Line, which will allow for more train service. The new bridge will provide the necessary clearance for two tracks underneath the span. Motorists are advised to continue using Abram’s Landing Road as the designated detour during construction.

The MTA projects the new bridge will open to traffic in March 2028, though the agency noted the schedule is subject to change. The existing structure is built from 130-year-old timbers, roughly one foot in square, that remain sturdy but are coated in black creosote. Once the span is removed, new abutments will be constructed next summer before the concrete section is installed by crane.