The contractor charged with the annual sand replenishment at downtown Montauk’s ocean beaches began mobilizing on Tuesday and was to begin the work of sand placement yesterday.
Councilman David Lys said on Tuesday that the work is weather-dependent but based on past efforts the contractor, Patrick Bistrian Jr., expects to complete the project in around 10 days.
Beach access will be limited at the South Edison access location during the project, and there will be heavy equipment moving up and down the beach throughout each workday. Residents and visitors have been asked not to enter the active construction area while material is being delivered and placed.
The town and Suffolk County are jointly responsible for annual sand replenishment ahead of the summer season, at a cost averaging more than $1 million annually. It is an interim measure before implementation of the Fire Island to Montauk Point reformulation project, the Montauk portion of which is expected to start this fall.
Known as FIMP, that long-awaited, multibillion-dollar project spans 83 miles of shoreline between Fire Island Inlet and Montauk Point. The project, conducted by the federal Army Corps of Engineers, involves dredging and shoreline projects including a variety of coastal and wetland restoration efforts aimed at reducing flooding, erosion, and storm damage, while preserving the natural environment and wildlife habitat.
