Work begins on flood-resiliency projects in Alexandria Bay area of Jefferson County

ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. — Construction has started on four flood-resiliency projects in the town of Alexandria and village of Alexandria Bay in Jefferson County.

The projects were awarded more than $3.8 million in grant funding through the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday.

The village of Alexandria Bay and town of Alexandria dealt with “devastating” flooding in 2019 when the waters of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River rose to “historic levels.”

The extensive flooding resulted in significant damage to the public infrastructure in both the town and village. The damage impacted docks, boat launches, wharfs, and water-treatment facilities.

Dock closures are difficult on a community that thrives on a tourism-based economy and relies on recreational boaters and anglers visiting the region.

The state’s REDI commission awarded the Village of Alexandria Bay a total of $3.36 million for three projects.

The announcement for the village includes $2 million for work on the upper and lower James Street docks; $1.1 million for work at the Scenic View Park Pier, and $260,000 for flood-mitigation measures at the village water-treatment plant.

It also awarded the Town of Alexandria $455,000 to complete its REDI project, Hochul’s office said.

About REDI

New York officials created REDI to “increase the resilience” of shoreline communities and “bolster” economic development in the region. It was done in response to the “extended pattern of flooding” along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, per the news release.

The state established five REDI regional planning committees to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. The committees are comprised of representatives from eight counties: Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence.

Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million to benefit communities and improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Since the creation of the state’s REDI program in spring 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects are underway or completed, including 56 projects in the design phase, 37 projects in the construction phase, and 41 projects completed.