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Mostly Cloudy Sinkhole filled in, Grand Ave. can now reopen
Workers have repaired the sinkhole that has caused major headaches on Grand Avenue in Baldwin — a month after the ground first split open.
The sinkhole, which was caused by a cracked sewer line, was filled in a week after committees for the Nassau County Legislature earmarked funds for emergency repairs on Grand Avenue. A portion of a $15 million lateral sewer repair budget line was used to fund the repairs — which was money originally set aside to repair the sinkhole on Lido Boulevard in Lido Beach.
With the money funding both the repairs to the Lido Beach and Baldwin sinkholes, the lateral sewer budget line must be replenished to fund future emergency sewer repair projects in the county, officials said. Final approval for the additional money could come as soon as the scheduled Aug. 7 meeting of the full Legislature.
“This is the first of many significant investments that we must make in order to rebuild and reinforce Nassau County’s aging critical infrastructure,” said Legislator Debra Mulé, whose district includes the portion of Grand Avenue impacted by the sinkhole. “As we look ahead to the 2024 capital plan, I am committed to ensuring that vital resources for road, sewer and water infrastructure are our county’s top priorities.”
Earlier this month, Mulé sent letters to Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, expressing the need for additional resources to repair and upgrade the county’s aging infrastructure. She also urged federal representatives to expedite the delivery of billions of dollars in federal aid that has been earmarked to the state in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“No part of our county or our region is immune from infrastructure failures like the ones we have experienced during the last month,” Mulé said.
“When considered alongside the growing hazards posed by the impacts of climate change, these looming threats behoove us to act now. We must take decisive action to protect our environmental assets and secure the health and safety of all Nassau County residents by averting future catastrophes such as the ones that the residents of Baldwin and Lido Beach have endured.”
In an open letter to the Baldwin community on July 17, Mulé expressed her gratitude to Nassau County officials for their “swift attention” to the Baldwin sinkhole. She also said she was thankful for the workers who toiled in extreme heat to complete these repairs, and to the Baldwin residents for their patience throughout these repairs.
“Curb-to-curb roadway resurfacing is anticipated for Lorenz Avenue during the week of July 24 to 28, 2023 as the final phase of the emergency response work,” Mulé said in her letter. “Officials anticipate that the roadway resurfacing along Lorenz Avenue will require approximately three days to complete, with work being performed from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on consecutive weekdays.”
Mulé added that the section of sewer main that was cracked on Grand Avenue was repaired on July 13. The structural pipe liner was installed within the primary sewer main, which reinforced the sewer line to prevent it from cracking again. She also said that driveway access to residents along the south side of Lorenz Avenue was restored last Wednesday, and Grand Avenue was fully reopened last Saturday.
“This incident was truly a wake-up call for all of us, and I am committed to focusing on rebuilding and reinforcing Nassau County’s critical infrastructure,” Mulé said in her open letter.
“As we look ahead to the 2024 capital plan, I will make resources for road, sewer and water infrastructure my top priority.”
