Flood Barrier Approved for Manhattan's East Side

A plan to build a flood barrier between Manhattan and the East River overcame some last minute controversy on its way to approval this month.

1 minute read

November 18, 2019, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

quiggyt4 / Shutterstock

"The City Council approved Mayor Bill de Blasio's $1.3 billion plan to keep the East Side of Manhattan high and dry when the next storm surge hits," report Will Bredderman and Ryan Deffenbaugh.

The plan will clear the way for "a flood barrier of up to 13 feet high along a 2.5-mile stretch of East River coastline between Montgomery and East 25th streets."

As recently as September, the plan was surrounded in controversy, when Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Councilmember Carlina Rivera called for an independent investigation of the project.

The roll call vote to approve the project "also came just days after de Blasio agreed to create a community advisory council for the infrastructure undertaking," according to Rivera.

FULL STORY: Council approves plan to shield the East Side from the next Sandy

Friday, November 15, 2019 in Crain's New York Business

Environment Infrastructure New York New York City East River Resilience Flood Barrier Climate Change Mayor Bill de Blasio View More

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