Untroubled bridge in Hewlett Harbor

Mallow Reach Bridge is structurally sound, officials say

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Mallow Reach Bridge, which spans the Auerbach Channel, connecting Seawane Drive to Harbor Road in the Village of Hewlett Harbor underwent repairs in June 2016.

The two-lane bridge was built in 1932 and has been repaired in 1998, 2004, 2008 and 2016, according to Hewlett Harbor Mayor Mark Weiss. It is owned and operated by the village. Hewlett Harbor officials estimate that about 200 vehicles pass over the bridge daily. Its legal weight limit is three tons.

Weiss said that after the bridge’s annual inspection, the village acted quickly to make the necessary repairs. “The bridge was never shut down by the state,” he said, “the repairs were made while the bridge was still in use.” Weiss added that since the bridge stretches over saltwater, it could get corroded occasionally.


Bridge inspectors in New York state evaluate all of a bridge’s individual parts and assign a condition score. Inspections typically take place at least once every two years. The DOT rating scale ranges from 1 — poor condition to 7 — new condition. There are roughly 17,378 highway bridges in the state, according to the DOT.

New York’s last submittal update for last year was May 26, 2016, according to Department of Transportation officials. In order to be deemed structurally deficient, according to the DOT, a bridge must receive a condition rating of four or less for deck, superstructures, substructures, culvert and retaining walls or an appraisal rating of two or less for structural condition or waterway adequacy.

New York state highway bridge data states that the bridge in Hewlett Harbor was last inspected on June 6, 2016.

A structurally deficient bridge that remains open to traffic “typically requires significant maintenance and repair to remain in service and eventual rehabilitation or replacement to address deficiencies,” DOT officials said.