Emergency Declared As Section of Dune Road Over Washes into Bay

SOUTHAMPTON, NY- Southampton Town has declared an emergency to repair a section of Dune Road that has over-washed into the bay as a result of recent storms and high tides.

At a special Town Board meeting on Thursday, the Southampton Town Board approved a contract with First Coastal to restore the 500 foot section of Dune Road.

The stretch of Dune Road impacted is approximately 2.5 miles west of Ponquogue Bridge and 1,500 feet east of Triton Lane. The over wash was first identified on February 8, resulting from the increased storm surge and wave heights associated with Nor’easter Mars impacting the area, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said.

Schneiderman also declared a limited state of emergency in order to expedite the needed repair. The emergency declaration allows the town to accelerate the required coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to move sand and rebuild the berm.

The declaration also allows the town to request help from the Suffolk County Department of Public Works to bring in heavy equipment to reconstruct the berm.

The plan is to move in six thousand cubic yards of sand from an existing stockpile in order to shore up the area by creating a 500 linear foot long, 10 to 15 feet high with a 50 to 75 foot base berm.

“Since the overwash,” Schneiderman said, “there has been increased local flooding in low lying bay side communities. We are taking these emergency measures in order to protect Dune Road as well as those local communities.” He added, “I am impressed with how quickly our staff responded to this emergency with a very complete mitigation plan.”

Dune Road west of Ponquogue Bridge to the Quogue Bridge may be flooded in some areas during high tides and could be impassable. Temporary closures may be necessary, the supervisor said.

Patch file photo of Dune Road, hit hard by Sandy.