Long Beach Could See Partial Beach Closures This Summer For Protection Work
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A major beach protection project is getting underway in Long Beach, Long Island right before the busy summer months.
As CBS2's Andrea Grymes reports, the beautiful beachfront view is currently disrupted by two large payloaders sitting on the sand -- just waiting to get to work.
Resident Larry Lombardi calls the eyesore a "small price to pay." He lives on Neptune Avenue, right near the construction equipment for the city's beach protection project.
"I think it's about time," he tells CBS2. "I think they should've done this a long time ago. I understand the surfers are a little upset about it, but they can surf on the street in the next storm."
The Army Corps of Engineers is about to start rebuilding 15 of the worn rock jetties that jut into the Atlantic Ocean.
City Manager Jack Schnirman says work will last through the prime summer months.
"It's a project decades in the making and critical to protect our shoreline," he said. "One thing we want to assure our residents and visitors is that our beaches will absolutely be open this summer."
State Sen. Todd Kaminsky said lawmakers have made a deal to make sure the project has minimal impact on beachgoers.
"Not have work on the weekends, to push the work away from the main beaches that are the most crowded and popular, and try to ensure that more work gets done in the spring and the fall and less in the summer," Kaminsky told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
The state senator said in the end the project is needed and worth the inconveniences.
Public Works Commissioner John Mirando says crews will work on the jetties two at a time and will try to keep construction areas small so the impact on the public is limited.
"If there's work going on at their access point, they may just have to move down one access point to get on the beach and enjoy a great summer," he said.
The city got slammed during Superstorm Sandy, and Mirando hopes this project will help protect the community in any future storms.
"Had this been in place prior to Sandy, we probably would've seen a lot less damage to businesses and roads and things of that nature," he added.
Some residents say the temporary inconvenience is worth it.
"I'm not looking forward to maybe parts of the beach closed for the summer, but you have to sacrifice to keep it good for everybody," Bridget Marrotte said.
The city expects this phase of the beach protection project to be completed by June of 2018. They also expect the second phase -- including sand replenishment and building dunes along the boardwalk -- to start sometime after that.
Construction will stop on summer weekends and street parking will not be affected, according to officials.