Drainage Project Flows At Last

Severe flooding has been a serious problem in Great Neck, especially along Middle Neck Road (which is a county road) from Kensington to the Old Village, which falls under the county’s jurisdiction. Local village officials began approaching Nassau County for help years ago, but delays stymied the project.
On Monday, July 7, workers from the county’s contractor were finally visible on the scene.
According to Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman, drainage, new pipes and new catch basins will finally stop the flooding of roads, sidewalks, temples, an apartment building and local shops.
As the work was getting off the ground, Nassau County Legislator Ellen Birnbaum toured the construction site at Middle Neck Road and Old Mill Road, where a major pipe was being installed. A county inspector, who declined to give his name, said that the project should be completed by Oct. 15. The construction manager, who likewise declined to be named, cautioned that unexpected events could cause delays. At that time, a water pipe had just broken, resulting in one first delay.
Due to the work, one lane on Middle Neck Road in each direction is being closed to traffic Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Occasionally a sidewalk on one side of the road is also closed. Signs announcing the closings have been placed along Middle Neck Road. Birnbaum told the Record that she has been promised that no access will be closed to any roads. And, in addition, she said that no roads will be closed in the Fall during the Jewish High Holidays.
Kensington Mayor Susan Lopatkin told the Record that she had no advance notice of the work, prompting Birnbaum to notify all of the mayors whose villages would be impacted. That included Great Neck Estates Mayor David Fox, whose village lies between Kensington and the Old Village.
Learning of the county’s failure to communicate with the local mayors, Birnbaum promised to “keep on top of this,” making sure officials and constituents are updated on all projects.
Though the Record contacted the Nassau County Public Works Department regarding the scope and the length of this long-awaited and much-needed drainage project, as of presstime there had been no response.