Ray Ribiero, Nassau County Department of Public Works commissioner, returned a phone call requesting information, saying he currently does not have a crew working on West Shore Road.
Local residents have seen stakes being put into the ground in the West Shore Road area, and a county source said what is currently happening is that the contractors are surveying the area, and the team is still working on a plan for the renovation of the road.
There have been issues with the public involved in restoring the road including: intruding into the wetland; the raising of the road – in the area between the railroad bridge and Cleft Road to prevent flooding. A bike path was proposed for the area along the water.
Bayville Mayor Victoria Siegel has long been in favor of the road repair for the safety of residents of the incorporated village. In case of an emergency – such as flooding – West Shore Road is one of two ways to get into Bayville.
Dave Relyea, owner of Frank M. Flower & Sons, Inc. said, “We’ve heard rumors that an attempt is again being made to repair West Shore Road. As before, Frank M. Flower is concerned with the drainage and the effect of a new sea wall on Oyster Bay Harbor.”
According to the Nassau County 2009-2012 Capital Improvement Plan the current status of the West Shore Road is: “Currently designing improvement to seawall only, not the road. Design is 80 percent complete. Plans were reviewed by representatives of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, who have jurisdiction over the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Their initial response was negative regarding gabions on the refuge. We intend to discuss the issue with that agency further, and take appropriate actions.”
The project was originally described as: “West Shore Road extends along the west shore of Oyster Bay harbor for two miles from Oyster Bay to Bayville. The existing two-lane road was built 50 years ago. Portions of an adjacent wall are 40 years old and parts of the old wall have collapsed. It is a prime access route between Oyster Bay, Mill Neck and Bayville.
“This project is for the discrete rehabilitation or reconstruction of sections of this roadway and sea wall. Several alternatives for this improvement have met with community opposition, however at this time, consensus has been developed with the elected officials on a conceptual plan to move this project forward. Detailed design development will occur through 2004-2005 for a proposed construction in 2006-2007.”
According to the documentation for plan 6179A, West Shore Road, Mill Neck, the design work should finish on Feb. 15, 2009. Construction should start on March 8, 2009 and be finished by Dec. 30, 2009.
