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Politics & Government

Town Moves Forward On Matunuck Headland Project

Town officials have filed applications to protect road infrastructure along a crucial area on Matunuck Beach Road.

The Town Council's Tuesday approval of a resolution authorizing additional funds for an Engineering Services Contract carried more than a price tag, as officials also outlined their application to install an armored structure along a threatened Matunuck Beach Road.

Approved on June 13, 2011, the contract with St. Jean Engineering, LLC represents a move by the Town responding to several months negotiations and talks with Coastal Resources Management Council concerning critical road infrastructure and emergency service access on Matunuck Beach Road.

“Based on discussions with CRMC, its staff and the town council, the town is in the position to appoint a marine engineering consultant that will be required to prepare the engineering design and all documentation necessary to secure [approvals] both state and federal if necessary to be able to construct an armored stone wall or a sheet steel wall in the Matunuck area,” explained Steve Alfred in June.

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The amendment, an increase to an $81,900 payout to St. Jean, is necessary to ensure that proper hazard mitigation strategies be employed in armoring the south-facing shoreline directly adjacent to the 202 feet of headland on Matunuck Beach Road. The property in question currently owned by Mary Carpenter abutting the Ocean Mist property to the west is presently under appraisal by the Town.

“The Town is having the property appraised for possible purchase,” said Vincent Murray, principal planner. “We are pursuing all options available to us at this time.”

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The project, slated to be accomplished in phases is critical to the sustainability of road infrastructure, the community's main water supply and utility access in the event of an ocean breach.

The first phase of the project will be performed by National Grid, independent of the Town's armament project with St. Jean. In response to a maintenance certiication request filed with CRMC in September, the Town was given assent to relocate the existing utility poles along the south side of Matunuck Beach Road to the north side. “National Grid has already put in the work order for the project. They hope to have the project completed by the end of October,” said John Schock, Public Services Director. “The cost of the project will be handled by National Grid as they have a vested interest in maintaining the lines.”

The poles designated for relocation will be placed on the north side of the road within the Town's right of way. “There will be minimal impact to the residents of the community,” added Schock.

The second phase, installment of the sheet-pile wall has not received CRMC approval at this time. The plans as submitted call for the installation of a steel sheet-pile wall, 35-40 feet tall, driven into the ground with only three to four feet sticking above the ground, capped in concrete. The proposed wall would extend 202 feet from the western edge of 895 Matunuck Beach Road westward, along the roadway, finishing somewhere along the middle of the Mary Carpenter’s property, according to Murray.

In this particular stretch, the supporting birm below a concrete slab gave way during Hurricane Irene, exposing a small section of the road directly to the ocean if it were to rise again to levels experienced during Irene.

St. Jean began testing at the site in September. “In addition, [St. Jean] needed to do a sub surface evaluation for what conditions it would yield,” Alfred said. “I directed that work to be done, which was completed during last week of September and took approximately 7 days and in reference, cost $17,500.”

According to Alfred the expenditure was crucial for determining the makeup of the sub-surface to avoid any surprises when pounding sheets of steel 35-40 feet into the ground. Alfred added that if bedrock or another type of difficult material were encountered, it would have a considerable impact on construction cost and time.

In addition to submitting its application for the construction of the sheet pile wall, town planner Vin Murray said Wednesday that his office is close to submitting another application to CRMC to re-classify the area under the Salt Pond section of the S.A.M.P.

“We are calling for changes that would not affect the…plan for the region, and if the coastal change is accepted it would afford residences and businesses more options to install structures to mitigate this hazard.”

Residents and business owners in the small coastal community are keeping close watch on the developing plans. “People are calling,” said Carol Hagen-McEntee, Town Council VP. “They want to know what's going on. I think we need to have another public hearing.”

Carl Critz contributed to this report.

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