Wyandanch sewer line construction starting

The Town of Babylon is set to break ground on a sewer line that will run from the Southwest Sewer District to downtown Wyandanch. The line is considered one of the most critical components of a planned revitalization of the area.

Heavy construction on the sewer line is set to start Monday, weather permitting, said town spokesman Tim Ruggeri, and the project is expected to take about 18 months to  complete. The line will be constructed in two sections -- one running into downtown, the other to Babylon Town’s ashfill. The town had initially planned to start construction last summer. In October, the town held a sewer groundbreaking celebration, but road prep work did not begin until recently.

Town officials estimate the cost of the sewer line at $15 million. The town will use $12.3 million in low-interest federal financing administered by the state, as well as $2.7 million from the garbage district fund. The latter pays for the section hooked up to the ashfill, which officials have said will save the town $500,000 a year.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy last year signed legislation that will waive $14 million in sewer connection fees within the downtown corridor of Wyandanch.

Town and planning officials have said that a sewer line is crucial to attracting development in the downtown. The Wyandanch Rising redevelopment seeks to spur transit-oriented development around the Long Island Rail Road station and create a variety of housing types, commercial properties and public green spaces.

Ruggeri said the first phase of work will temporarily close one lane of Edison Avenue but should otherwise not affect traffic.