By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — When the tidal groin was built at Burying Hill Beach, Harry Truman was president and the Dodgers called Brooklyn home.

In 1950, the Army Corps of Engineers built the 400-foot wooden barrier — many people consider it a jetty — to keep sand from migrating south along the shore and clogging a nearby creek. On completion, the Army turned it over to the town to maintain. 

Seventy-two years later, time and the tides have taken their toll. 

With soggy, splintery lumber and 162 pilings worn down like pencil erasers, the structure appears more of a relic than shoreline infrastructure.

Replacement of the groin has been listed in the town’s capital projects forecast several years. 

Now, with the federal government sending the town $8.4 million in pandemic relief money, Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich would like to see the project happen sooner rather than later.

Project’s cost, priority questioned

The Board of Finance discussed the plan Wednesday night, and members had some concerns.

Brian Stern wanted to know how the projected cost grew by $400,000 since the town started discussing ways to carve up American Rescue Plan Act funding.

A few months ago, the project had a $900,000 price tag. It’s now $1.3 million.

Ratkiewich said the original figure was from a 2020 estimate. Since then, the pandemic hit and the cost of building supplies, lumber in particular, has skyrocketed. Labor fees also have increased, Ratkiewich said, though more modestly.

Stern asked that since many projects are under consideration in town, including downtown parking improvements, could this one wait?

Ratkiewich said that unlike those plans, the Burying Hill project is “shovel ready,” and state permits to do the work are in hand. 

“Currently, it is in a state of disrepair,” Ratkiewich said of the groin. “It actually has warning signs on it to prevent people from walking along that structure.”

Also, he said, “in its current state it’s also not effective as a sand deterrent.” 

On Wednesday afternoon, just after high tide, sand and sea straw appeared to have spilled over the top of the groin.

Finance Chairwoman Sheri Gordon suggested board members take a field trip to Burying Hill. 

Structure called unsafe, potential liability

Ratkiewich said a sign has been posted telling people to keep off the groin, but noted that warning often is ignored, and added that liability could be a problem.

The town’s orange-and-black sign warns people the pier is closed, keep off, dangerous conditions.

Art Schoeller, president of the Greens Farms Association, said action is long overdue.

“My 4-year-old son, back in 1986, went sprinting out on this jetty,” he said. “My heart was in my throat. But it was a different jetty then.”

“We’ve been having this discussion since 2016 … it is our opinion that it really is time to do this now,” Schoeller added. “We need to take action on getting this done … This thing is eroding and it’s well past its useful life.”

Because the requested appropriation is more than $500,000, the Board of Finance is required to discuss the matter more than once before voting. The board, after a field trip to Burying Hill, plans to discuss the proposal again at a future meeting.