MASTIC BEACH, N.Y. (AP) — Work is set to begin next month on bolstering dunes and beaches to resist storm surges on a 19-mile stretch of Long Island’s ocean coast.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that $68 million in state financing has been authorized for the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet project. It’s part of $207 million in coastal storm protection work along the Atlantic Ocean coast in Suffolk County.
Fire Island took a heavy hit from Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. Assessments show Fire Island’s dune structure lost, on average, 55 percent of its volume.
That’s roughly 4.5 million cubic yards of sand. A large dump truck carries about 20 cubic yards of sand.
Work on the project is to begin this fall at Smith Point County Park in Mastic Beach.
