LIRR to replace damaged bridge in August

Buses will replace train service on Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch for 48 hours beginning Aug. 2 through Aug. 4 so the company can replace the damaged railroad bridge that spans Hill Station Road in Southampton. The Hill Station Road bridge suffered serious structural damage when it was struck by a flatbed truck in April. Service was immediately suspended while the LIRR's engineering department determined the extent of the damage and how to shore up the structure so that train travel could resume Monday morning. Since the incident, trains have been moving over the bridge at the restricted speed of 15 miles-per-hour for safety reasons. The temporary support system devised by the LIRR has prevented vehicular traffic from passing under the bridge. The cost of the new bridge, designed by Structural Bridges USA, is $367,505. The work will result in the suspension of train service between Speonk and Montauk, including some AM and PM Peak trains and the substitution of bus service.