Posted on October 5, 2022
The federal government wants to build a massive system of storm surge gates and seawalls to protect the New York harbor region from flooding and has put forth a much-delayed plan that would remake coastal areas from upper Manhattan down to Jamaica Bay.
The Army Corps estimates construction on the $52 billion project would begin in 2030 and be complete by 2044. The project must be first approved by federal, state and local officials and funded before any of the work can start. — The City
The New York District, North Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a 569-page report outlining a coastal storm risk management feasibility study. According to The City’s Samantha Maldonado, a public comment period will be held through January 6th, 2023, as a means to help “inform the design.” Maldonado also reported that the government expects plans to be finalized by 2025.
The Army Corps also released an interactive map that details individual aspects of the initial proposal, which Columbia University climate scientist Paul Gallay said will “set the tone for coastal protection and community viability for decades to come.”
“We have a lot more room to advocate for environmental justice communities and truly sustainable solutions than many of the other plans would have allowed for,” Victoria Sanders, a research analyst at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, told the publication. “There is still a long road and a lot of unknowns between now and the release of that final plan, so we will see how things unfold in the coming months.”
