$4.9M project restores roadway damaged by 2018 nor’easter

The New York City Department of Design and Construction and Department of Transportation recently announced the completion of a $4.9 million emergency contract to stabilize Shore Road, between West Drive and Bayview Avenue, in Douglaston.

The roadway, which runs along the coaster perimeter of Little Neck Bay, was severely damaged by a nor’easter storm in 2018, leaving the street vulnerable to inclement weather. The embankment and timber walls that supported the street, along with the pathway used by workers to help maintain the embankment, partially collapsed as well.

“Shore Road is an important part of the fabric of our community,” Douglaston Manor Association President Pia Thompson said in a statement. “It was designed in 1906 as our promenade, a place where we can take a leisurely walk and meet neighbors or just reconnect with nature.”

The project, which was completed $700,000 under budget, was designed by DDC’s in-house design team along with Hazen and Sawyer engineering consultants, to ensure that any potential storms or flooding would not cause future hazards along the route.

“The Shore Road waterfront is a hidden gem in Douglaston, widely enjoyed at all times of the year by both residents and visitors wishing to take in sweeping vistas of Little Neck Bay,” State Senator John Liu said in a statement. “When the 2018 nor’easter threatened to destabilize the entire region, we knew immediate resiliency actions needed to take place.”

During the pandemic, while construction slowed throughout the city, Liu said his office continued to work closely with city agencies and the City Comptroller to expedite the emergency contract and make sure that it remained a priority to the administration to finish the project on time and under budget.

MFM Contracting Corp. began construction in June 2021 with additional engineering services provided by EnTech Engineering. The project includes the installation of steel sheets and 40-foot-deep solider piles to support the roadway. Approximately 700 cubic yards of gabion baskets filled with stone were also installed at various elevations to support the embankment and roadway.

Additionally, the 2,550 square foot walkway along the lower portion of the embankment was restored to allow access to workers, and more than 900 square feet of roadway along the embankment was fully restored.

“It is vital that we maintain the integrity of our coastal communities and protect our shorelines, while also maintaining the beauty and history of Douglaston,” Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said in a statement. “I commend the work of NYC DDC and DOT for the major accomplishment of this project to have been completed swiftly, especially under budget. This is a very exciting time for the Douglaston community.”