Two assembly members are demanding that the New York State Department of Transportation accelerate the timeline for repairs of the Robert Moses Causeway Bridge.

Assemblymen Jarett Gandolfo and Michael Durso are pushing the NYSDOT to make the repairs over the Fire Island Inlet to begin this year instead of 2027.

The request comes after a viral video showed a hole in the bridge that required emergency repairs.

A spokesman for the NYSDOT sent News 12 a statement:

“On Thursday, the New York State Department of Transportation responded to a report of erosion damage to a portion of the Fire Island Inlet Bridge deck, which was likely caused by recent severe weather and the repeated freeze-thaw cycle. Upon further inspection, NYSDOT maintenance crews and contractors determined the extent of the damage was limited. Steel plates were secured over that section of the bridge deck and another nearby pothole, allowing the roadway to be re-opened pending further repairs when conditions permit. The bridge remains safe for travel and NYSDOT, as always, will continue to monitor conditions on the span. A previously planned rehabilitation of the Fire Island Inlet Bridge is expected to begin in 2027.”

As News 12 previously reported, the video, which has garnered thousands of shares and reactions on social media, captures a section of missing concrete on the span leading to Robert Moses State Park. In the footage, water from the Great South Bay can be seen moving beneath the bridge through the exposed opening.

“We appreciate NYSDOT’s swift response in completing emergency repairs and reopening the bridge,” said Gandolfo. “However, I don’t think anyone is comfortable with the pavement eroding to the point that we can see the water below. It’s clear that the total rehabilitation of the bridge needs to be done sooner. Waiting until 2027 to begin construction presents unnecessary risks to public safety and the long-term integrity of this critical infrastructure.”