Feds award $2.5M to repave Harbor Road, but millions more needed to rebuild it
Harbor Road in Stony Brook, on Jan. 30. The road is in ruins nearly 18 months after a storm destroyed it and caused the dam that supported it to collapse. Credit: Barry Sloan
The federal government has allocated $2.5 million to repave Harbor Road in Stony Brook, which was toppled by a storm nearly 18 months ago, but millions more are required to rebuild the road and dam that supported it.
The road was destroyed when the dam collapsed during the Aug. 18-19, 2024, storm, which ravaged a swath of the North Shore.
The funding is for resurfacing Harbor Road. The cost of rebuilding the road and collapsed dam is estimated at between $4.5 million to $10 million, officials said. Rebuilding efforts have been stymied as Brookhaven Town, Head of the Harbor Village, Suffolk County and the nonprofit Ward Melville Heritage Organization squabble over the properties' ownership.
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization owns the park where the dam and Harbor Road overpass are located.
While the funds may be used to resurface Harbor Road, they can't be used to rebuild the dam, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said in a phone interview.
A news release from Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) said the funding goes toward the "reconstruction of the damaged road bed and the full resurfacing" of Harbor Road.
The parties in recent months have worked to seek Federal Emergency Management Agency money to cover up to 75% of reconstruction costs. The resurfacing grant is separate.
“The grant certainly is helpful, but understanding it can only be used for resurfacing," Panico said Thursday in a phone interview. He noted that reconstruction efforts "have a path forward” if the town, village and nonprofit come to an agreement.
Panico expressed optimism during a recent town board meeting. He said a deal to rebuild the road and dam may be imminent.
Head of the Harbor Mayor Michael Utevsky cautioned that progress has been slow and called the stalemate "frustrating."
"There's still a loggerhead," Utevsky said Wednesday during a village board meeting.
Gloria Rocchio, president of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization, said the federal grant was “a great step forward." She added that the nonprofit was entering the "conceptual design stage" for reconstruction but declined to offer additional details.
The Harbor Road project was among dozens of Long Island public works projects included last month in three so-called "minibus" federal appropriations bills. President Donald Trump signed the spending packages into law.
It is not clear whether FEMA will approve funds to rebuild the dam.
State officials in December said they believed FEMA was unlikely to approve reimbursement for a new dam. The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services said it believed FEMA may prefer a culvert that would flow beneath Harbor Road, Newsday reported.
Newsday's Billy House and Jean-Paul Salamanca contributed to this story.
Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 21 Massapequa, Miller Place wrestling champs Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks about Massapequa and Miller Place wrestling teams winning state dual meet championships and Jonathan Ruban takes a look at the undefeated Northport girls basketball team.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 21 Massapequa, Miller Place wrestling champs Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks about Massapequa and Miller Place wrestling teams winning state dual meet championships and Jonathan Ruban takes a look at the undefeated Northport girls basketball team.
