[4] In 1977, the county applied for a new bridge to be constructed 300 feet (91 m) from the original structure, costing $6 million (1976 USD) and designed as a bulb-shaped plan.

The Coast Guard found that at least 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) of wetlands would be affected by this new structure and that any proposal for a building permit would be denied.

[5] The Coast Guard called in an engineering firm from New Jersey to design alternatives to the county's proposal, which would attempt to prevent damage to the wetlands.

[5] This new span, which would be 55 feet (17 m) high, was deemed ridiculous by one local, who claimed that they should choose to only replace the drawbridge, which would cost about $2 million.

Inspectors from the New York State Department of Transportation were back out on February 24 continuing to examine the bridge and obtain additional data to be analyzed by the engineers.