The long-awaited retaining wall at East Beach is finally done after a total makeover of the decaying former wall.
Back in March, the project was awarded to Galvin Brothers and Madhue Contracting, both of Great Neck, as a joint venture for a total of $474,830. The expenses for the structural repairs were included in the budget and were part of a bond anticipation note.
This came as part of the ongoing revitalization of East Beach, which included sand dredging, and soon a revegetation of the bluff.
According to Mayor Margot Garant, the wall was finished on time and as expected by Memorial Day weekend.
“I think the community is really happy with it,” she said. “It’s important that we got this wall completed.”
Garant said they are continuously keeping an eye on the wall and watching the upper slop to make sure everything stays in place.
“When there was a monsoon [that weekend],” she said, “Everything stayed intact.”
The sand dredging component of the East Beach renovations was completed earlier this year. Photo from Margot Garant
As part of the ongoing renovations of Port Jefferson’s East Beach, the village recently completed the bidding process to rebuild of the beach’s retaining wall.
During the village’s virtual board of trustees meeting on March 1, Mayor Margot Garant announced the milestone — a project that has essentially been going on since Hurricane Sandy hit Long Island in 2012.
“We’re happy to see this project underway,” she said. “Everything’s in order.”
According to Garant, a construction meeting will be held with village administrator Joe Palumbo in the upcoming week, with plans to start the wall’s renovations before beach season starts.
Along with East Beach, the retaining wall at Highlands Boulevard will also be included.
A view of the current retaining wall at East Beach that will undergo a makeover thanks to the village’s bid approval. Photo from Margot Garant
In a recent newsletter from the village sent to residents, it stated that the project was awarded to Galvin Brothers and Madhue Contracting, both of Great Neck, as a joint venture for a total of $474,830. The expenses for the structural repairs are included in the budget and were part of a bond anticipation note.
Garant said this action will be a “springboard” as the village awaits DEC permits to finalize the East Beach project. After the retaining wall, revegetation of the bluff at the beach will be next on the list. The village is currently waiting for confirmation to see if it is eligible for FEMA reimbursement as a result of bluff loss at the site during Tropical Storm Isaias. The funds could help pay for the bluff’s restoration.
Earlier this year, sand dredging at East Beach, near Mount Sinai Harbor, was finalized — a project that took nearly a decade to complete, cost several million dollars and was a collaborative effort between the village, town, county, state and federal governments. Close to 80,000 cubic yards of sand was brought back to the beach.
This retaining wall will continue to help keep the beach looking the way it does now.
“It’s retention of our assets,” Garant said. “Plus, protecting our environment is critical.”
