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Light Rain Fog/Mist Boardwalk project on schedule
Five-block section to open Wednesday
Residents got a sneak peek at the long-awaited boardwalk last Saturday night, when a small section was opened to the public during the fireworks show.
“To have this back, it was terrific,” said resident Larry Wolfson, who stood on the boardwalk during the show. “It gives you encouragement. The boardwalk is really the whole center of everything, and to get it back, even half of it back, is a very big deal.”
On Facebook, residents shared their support for the new structure, approving the look and feel, and saying it finally felt like Long Beach again.
“The city recognizes how important the boardwalk is to the community, said Department of Public Works Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba. “We just thought it was an appropriate thing to do. It was a great night for the city in general.”
The boardwalk was closed again on Sunday, but beachgoers won’t have to wait long to try it out again. Next Wednesday marks the 100th day of construction, and the first five blocks, from Long Beach Road to Laurelton Boulevard, is set to open permanently.
Hurricane Sandy destroyed the 2.2-mile mile boardwalk, and the city awarded a $44.2 million contract to Plainview-based Grace Industries to rebuild it, with the hope that some sections would be completed in time for the summer, a critical time for the city’s economy.
The new boardwalk will feature a low-maintenance tropical hardwood that has a 30- to 40-year lifespan. A wooden span with concrete edges will be built between National Boulevard and Long Beach Road, and the walkway’s eastern and western sections will be all wood.
Builders are using 2x6 boards instead of the previous 2x4s, laid out east-west, in contrast to the north-south design of the old boardwalk, with 1/8-inch gaps between them. Officials have said this will reduce vibrations for bikes, strollers and wheelchairs. The design also includes aluminum pipe railing and antique light poles and fixtures. The height of the structure will remain the same, 17 feet above sea level, and beneath it, a wave-break wall will be built to prevent the kind of extensive damage that Hurricane Sandy caused.
