HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Emergency assessment and work along the beach and dunes of the west side of Shinnecock Inlet will result in some restricted areas for pedestrians and four-wheel drive vehicles in the coming days, Southampton Town officials said .
The Southampton Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management has been notified by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works that the work will take place over the next few days to a week, officials said.
In an effort to address vulnerable portions of the beach and dunes on the west side of Shinnecock Inlet that were impacted by coastal erosion from the recent storm, Suffolk County DPW and contractors will conduct work in the area, city officials added.
The work started on Wednesday and may take about a week to complete, barring any unforeseen issues. Weather, holidays and other factors can affect that schedule, officials said.
During the time the project will be carried out, the area of the beach affected by the project will be closed to pedestrian and four-wheel drive vehicles. The access restrictions are for public safety reasons and will be enforced by the city of Southampton, officials said.
The restricted beach access area will be restricted as much as possible in an effort to maintain as much public access as possible while ensuring safety during the short project, officials said.
During the time the project is underway, there will be construction vehicles and possible traffic changes in the area, as well as limited parking on the east side of the Ponquogue Beach parking lot, city officials said.
People and drivers visiting the area are asked to use extra caution due to some of these temporary changes.
“This emergency work is an important factor in maintaining the resilience of the beach area and dunes on the west side of Shinnecock Inlet as we continue through the winter and Easter season,” officials said.