Long Beach Calling on Army Corps to Speed Up Work

Local, county and state officials from Long Beach have all signed a letter asking for the Army Corps of Engineers to increase the speed of work on a shoreline project so it won't impact the summer beach season.

The letter was signed by City Manager Jack Schnirman, Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford, Assemblywoman Missy Miller and State Senator Todd Kaminsky. The Army Corps project is adding dunes along a seven-mile stretch of beaches, from the Jones Inlet in Point Lookout to the Rockaway Inlet, near Atlantic Beach.

But the Army Corps recently changed its timetable, which would now require work to be done during summer months. This is what concerns the elected officials.

"Your schedule calls for the closure of a substantial part of certain beaches, that during peak summer season would cause a great disruption to beachgoers," the letter reads, "harming Long Beach's vital summer economy and disturbing local residents."

The plan would also require heavy construction equipment to be on the beach during the summer season, which officials say could pose a risk to beachgoers.

Instead, officials propose, the Army Corps should double its efforts during the spring and autumn months to make up for not working during the summer.

"While we appreciate your desire and ability to complete the project ahead of schedule," officials wrote, "the original timeline parties had agreed to fairly balance the needs of the community to protect itself from future storms with the quality of life Long Beach residents and visitors come to expect."

Photo: Patch