Anyone visiting Burying Hill Beach recently is greeted by multiple pieces of heavy equipment including a giant crane and a pile driver. Work is under way to rebuild the 400 foot timber training wall (or groin) with a purpose of preventing beach sand from going into New Creek. The current wall has deteriorated, leaving the shoreline at risk of further erosion, and must be replaced.

Westport DPW Director Pete Ratkiewich has said that while they are hoping for an early summer completion date, that is not certain as anything can happen.

The construction "will interfere with beach activity in the area of the construction site" according to Ratkiewich. The parking lot closest to the beach will be unavailable, however there is a six foot wide walkway which will allow persons unable to access the beach by climbing the hill at the first parking lot to get to the beach.

Project costs have increased substantially since the project was originally designed and permitted in 2019.  The recent 2022 ARPA appropriation request of $1.3M reflected a $400k increase over the 2019 estimate - due mainly to increases in material and fuel costs. The planned cost was to be $950,000, the majority of the evident increase mainly due to the cost of marine grade pressure treated lumber required for the project doubling, bringing the total for cost of the project to $1.3 million.

Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com  Click on an image to enlarge.