Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Loop Parkway has reopened a day ahead of schedule after it closed for extensive bridge repairs last Friday.
The main artery connecting Long Beach to the rest of Long Island had closed on Oct. 22 as DOT workers reinforced the drawbridge's steel that hold the 50,000 ton counterweights. The project was scheduled to be completed on Oct. 27.
But the Department of Transportation said that the work was completed earlier than expected and, according to the City of Long Beach's website, the parkway was reopen in both directions as of 9 a.m. Tuesday.
DOT officials said that the closure of the Loop was necessary because the deteriorating steel would have created a safety issue. An average of 30,000 vehicles use the bridge daily, and to the chagrin of many commuters, the work resulted in lengthy traffic jams along Long Beach Road in and out of Long Beach, which many people were forced to use as an alternative route during the closure.
The City of Long Beach notified residents that the parkway had reopened via text and taped phones messages on Tuesday.
