New signage for Atlantic Beach Bridge toll area

Posted

The Nassau County Bridge Authority plans to repair and replace signage at the Atlantic Beach Bridge to clarify toll instructions for motorists as several of the signs were found to be more confusing than helpful.

Atlantic Beach Mayor George Pappas met with the Nassau County Bridge Authority on Sept. 20 to express resident concerns about the unclear signage.

Pappas noted necessary changes such as adding more prominent signs further from the tolls to instruct motorists on the $2 fee for most vehicles and that the bridge does not use the E-ZPass system. “I ask for better signage, I think that would be very helpful,” he said.

The NCBA has started planning the signage repair and replacement. Set dates for meetings and project completion dates are unknown as of press time as the bridge authority is waiting for its maintenance supervisor, Michael Merola, to recover from Covid.

NCBA Executive Director, Vincent Grasso, anticipates these dates will be announced in early October. “We are about to begin a process of community input for how the new toll plaza will look,” he said. “We expect for it to be organized and to begin having meetings before the end of the year.”

By the end of this process, there are expected to be three new signs for the three payment options: Cash, decals/passes, and cards. There will also be a bigger sign stating that E-ZPass is not accepted on the bridge.

This might help residents such as Meryl Benaim, who, on some days, crosses the bridge nearly six times, and has been frustrated by the unclear signage. “The confusion and chaos – especially during the summer months with the added out-of-town beach traffic-- is absolutely a nightmare for all!” Benaim said.

Beginnings Restaurant of Atlantic Beach is not far from the toll plaza, and they have used the bridge traffic as a positive marketing tactic: “AB bridge is up. Come to Beginnings,” read the @begginingsrestauraunt July Instagram post, “You know what builds bridges? Hanging out with random strangers at a bar while you wait for traffic to clear.”

Co-owner and former East Atlantic Beach resident Heather Freiser suggests, “putting signage further up on the Rockaway so people can prepare before the bridge,” to ease up some of the toll traffic.

At the bridge, standard vehicles cross for $2 cash. Yearly decals, also called passes, for unlimited passage can be purchased and registered in Nassau County for $130. Cards are $15 prepaid and last 20 trips. The toll is charged in both directions on the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

Have an opinion on signage on the Atlantic Beach Bridge? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com.