State breaks ground on $7.6M resiliency project in Sodus Point

SODUS POINT, N.Y. — Construction has started on a $7.58 million Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) project in the village of Sodus Point in Wayne County.

The project will protect public areas, businesses, and homes along Wickham Boulevard and Greig Street from lakeshore flooding, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a Dec. 4 news release. 

Projects like this are needed after several years of flooding on Lake Ontario has “devastated the infrastructure and economies of numerous communities,” Cuomo says. 

The project along Wickham Boulevard and Greig Street, which will be undertaken by the Village of Sodus Point with oversight by the New York State Department of State, includes important flood mitigation and water-quality protection measures. 

They include replacing and adding storm sewers throughout the area. New storm sewers will convey flood and storm water to existing and proposed outlets and provide gate valves on all storm water outlets. The implemented storm system will also benefit the adjoining water body by reducing the amount of sediment and debris entering the bay through a series of practices within the design. 

The measures also include installing a seawall to help protect the area from flooding and erosion. 

“Since 2017, residents and businesses in Sodus Point have been dealing with the uncertainty of unprecedented flooding. Losses have been in the millions of dollars,” Sodus Point Mayor Dave McDowell said in the release. “This project will alleviate flooding concerns and restore our local economy while concurrently implementing pedestrian improvements that will enhance the safety and appearance of our community. We are grateful for the assistance from New York State as we recover from these flood events.” 

In addition, the project also integrates public access and recreation improvements. They include a multi-purpose conceptual design for the shoreline stabilization measures. The design involved a bench sitting area along the road for recreational opportunities. 

The improvements also include installing new pavements, gutters, curbs, and sidewalks to serve as a pedestrian link between the businesses and residential areas. 

“This [REDI] project will protect public areas, beaches and restaurants on the bayfront, as well as the residents of Greig Street from flooding,” Kenneth Miller, chairman of the Wayne County Legislature, said. “The project will protect the Sodus Point shoreline from continued erosion and benefit property values and economic development. Wayne County is truly thankful action is being taken to help our lakefront communities with the recent flooding experienced along Lake Ontario’s southern shorelines.” 

The Department of State has also been working with the Village of Sodus Point to address the loss of beachfront from erosion and flooding by building a protective dune system. The dune system is a nature-based shoreline feature that increases flood protection and reduces risk by placing sand along approximately 1,800 feet of impacted shoreline. 

The elevated dune will function to reduce risk of damages from future inundation similar to the temporary flood protection systems installed during the 2019 high-water event. The Sodus Point Beach restoration project completed this month, the state said.