Officials Break Ground On $4.3M Bay Shore Complex Sewer Project

BAY SHORE, NY — A long-awaited project that will improve a Bay Shore community's sewer infrastructure commenced on Tuesday.

Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone were joined by community leaders and elected officials in a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the connection of the Lexington Village Condominium complex, located at 1 Hemlock Dr., to the Suffolk County Sewer System.

The $4.3 million project will connect the 170-unit housing complex, located in an environmental justice community, to the Suffolk County Sewer District No. 3 – Southwest, a release said.

The project entails the decommissioning, demolishing, and removal of the property’s existing sewage treatment plan, and will redirect the system to a nearby sewage pump station, connecting to the County’s Sewer System. Construction of the project is expected to be completed in about eight months.

"This project is a shining example of intergovernmental cooperation. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone enjoys a standard of living and quality of life," said Carpenter.

The Supervisor also went on to say that the sewer connection addresses an environmental concern by cleaning up the water being discharged into the ground and provides a more sustainable development.

It also "puts an end to trying to maintain the current failing system", which had been a costly and untenable expense for residents, she said.

"The groundbreaking at Lexington Village highlights the significant progress we have made to take historic measures in order to reclaim our water and improve our wastewater infrastructure throughout all our communities in Suffolk County," said Bellone. "This project is a result of community-based planning and collaborative partnerships. I thank Supervisor Carpenter and the Town of Islip for their unwavering commitment to enhance the quality of life and provide much needed relief for the residents of Lexington Village."

Suffolk County and the Town of Islip are each contributing $700,000 in funding to allow the project to move forward after initial bids for the project came in higher than anticipated.

The entirety of the project will be covered through municipal funding and will not be passed along to Lexington Village, where the majority of residents receive public assistance.

"Long Island cannot thrive without vital investments in sewer infrastructure. Suffolk County's outdated sewer system has plagued our region for too long LICA applauds Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter for their strong leadership in ensuring this critical project comes to fruition," said Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association. "It's a prime example of what can be achieved when we work together to make Long Island a great place to work and live."