Mangano Announces West Shore Road Project To Move Forward

Reconstruction Makes Communities Safer, Puts People Back to Work

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers has issued a draft permit that will help Nassau County’s largest highway project in two decades get underway within the next year. Approximately two miles of West Shore Road, which runs along Nassau’s North Shore through Oyster Bay, Bayville and the Village of Mill Neck, will see extensive reconstruction in three phases that will improve safety and address important environmental concerns that have faced the community for generations.

“This project has been argued and debated since the 1970’s, and now it is a closer reality,” said County Executive Mangano. “For too long, West Shore Road has been ignored and my administration has successfully advanced this project to a point in which we can break ground within the next 12 months. This massive project will address safety and the environment head on – all while putting people back to work on its construction.”

First conceived in 1978, the West Shore Road project has always faced pressure from municipalities, environmentalists, the community and funding concerns. The road, which is bordered by Oyster Bay Harbor, has been pummeled through the years by storms and heavy traffic.

The entire project, which will be done in three phases, is expected to cost $30 million. Phase One will cover a 2,000 sq. ft. stretch from Cleft Road towards the Bayville Bridge in Bayville.

In addition to difficult road conditions, many environmentalists have claimed that the storm water runoff has never been properly managed, spilling contaminants into the precious waters. The project aims to address that situation. In each phase, an underground pretreatment system will be installed.

“This project is critical to the long-term health of Oyster Bay Harbor,” added Mangano. “Our plans take every aspect of improvement into consideration.”

In addition, the seawall along West Shore Road will be replaced, as will the entire road bed. During the project, power and cable lines will be buried under the roadway, eliminating hanging wires and utility poles that often fall during storms, hampering evacuation from the waterfront community. That work will be done in each phase and the project is underway.

Once a final permit is received from the Army Corps of Engineers, which is expected within two weeks, the project will go to the bidding process. The construction contract must be approved by the County Legislature and the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA). Construction duration is expected to last approximately 18 months.

“This is a great leap forward for Oyster Bay, Bayville and Mill Neck,” concluded Mangano. “The West Shore Road symbolizes a new era of progress in Nassau. My administration is committed ensuring the County’s well-being for generations to come.”