Recognition for West Shore Road work

The Nassau County Department of Public Works has gotten plenty of grief from North Shore residents over its management of the reconstruction of West Shore Road after the route was undermined and closed by superstorm Sandy, but someone thinks the agency has done a good job.

Some residents of Centre Island, Bayville and Mill Neck forced to make a 10-minute detour have complained about the design for and pace of the work and, most recently, the design of the guardrail they say blocks their view of Oyster Bay Harbor.

However, the New York State Professional Engineering Society has given the county an “attaboy.”

The industry group named the West Shore Road seawall reconstruction its Project of the Year. And Donna Boyle, the project manager, was selected as Engineer of the Year.

The emergency repairs to the road combined with the first third of a previously planned reconstruction project are expected to be completed before July Fourth with a partial opening possible before that.

The engineering group also named Public Works Deputy Commissioner Richard Millet as Citizen of the Year for his role in coordinating efforts to restore operations at the Sandy-stricken Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant was inundated by a 9-foot wall of water.