Plans are underway for a $52 billion NY-NJ waterway project which will protect the New York harbor region from flooding. Recently, the U.S. Army Corps unveiled a new proposal that involves building a series of sea barriers and levees. This is the revised plan the agency has come up with since its last proposal which was shelved two-and-a-half years ago.
The previous plan for the NY-NJ waterway project was focused on building a single, larger wall for New York’s harbor. This wall was supposed to extend from the Rockaway peninsula in Queens to Sandy Hook in New Jersey. Unfortunately, experts analyzed the plan and deduced that it would most likely harm the environment and might not even work.
On the other hand, the new plan was accepted by the critics. The new proposal involves building 12 movable sea barriers to block waterways in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and New Jersey. In addition, it also covers the construction of 31 miles of land-based levees, elevated shorelines, and sea walls.
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Development plans for the NY-NJ waterway project
Critics have said this new NY-NJ waterway project plan was a major improvement over the previous one. But they appealed to the Corps to further reduce their reliance on built structures, which may pose risks to coastal ecosystems. They also pointed out that the structures should be able to withstand the forces of nature.
The NY-NJ waterway project plan takes into account two expert opinions from a broader resiliency debate and public concerns. Although the project’s main focus is still the sea barriers and walls, it will implement something from both expert views. One approach involves using engineered solutions, intended to control water flows, while also relying on walls and levees to defend coastlines. Meanwhile, the second approach is leaning towards rebuilding waterfront areas to make them compatible with rising seas and intensifying weather.
New York and New Jersey State officials have to approve the NY-NJ waterway project before it moves forward. The state Department of Environmental Conservation and the city Department of Environmental Protection will also review the report as well.
If all goes as planned, the Corps estimates that the project would be completed by 2044. Additionally, the development is expected to save $6.2 billion in flood damage each year for the next five decades. The public will be given an opportunity to comment and give feedback on the project’s design. This design is expected to be finalized in 2025, and afterward the construction phase will commence in 2030.
