$26M Southampton Town beach restoration begins
Coastal erosion imperils homes on the beach in Sagaponack. (Feb. 9, 2005) Credit: Newsday / David L. Pokress
Sand began being shot onto a Hamptons beach Tuesday afternoon, the beginning of a $26 million beach restoration project, a town official said.
Pumping sand from a mile offshore, the project is designed to double the width of a 5.7-mile stretch of beach in Sagaponack and Bridgehampton.
“The project will protect almost 6 miles of public beach and a $1.8 billion tax base,” town spokeswoman Jennifer Garvey said.
About 140 property owners along the ocean voted in February to increase their property taxes.
The Town of Southampton in July awarded contracts for the nourishment project to an Illinois-based operator, which was the low bidder on the project.
The project, which has been contemplated for years but became more urgent after superstorm Sandy, is expected to be completed by the end of December.
More than 2 million cubic yards of sand will be pumped onto the beaches and just below the shoreline, to restore the width of the beach.
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