May 20, 2025

More Than 1.6 Miles of New Storm Sewers and 101 New Catch Basins Added in Staten Island as Street Elevations Are Adjusted for New System

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) today announced the completion of an $84 million infrastructure project that installed 8,701 feet of new storm sewers and rebuilt streets and sidewalks in a coastal area of Staten Island that was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. The project was funded by DEP, DOT and FEMA, while DDC managed the construction, which began in spring 2019.

In order to correctly align the new storm sewer system in an area that had none before, DDC raised Milton Avenue, Finley Avenue and Cedar Grove Avenue in the project area by over a foot, while Hett Avenue was lowered around 10 inches. The elevation changes enable the gravity-reliant storm sewers to collect stormwater and drain correctly toward the lower NY Harbor. DDC also worked with more than 880 private homeowners to reconstruct their driveways and in many cases their front yards to accommodate the new street elevations outside their properties.

“The devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy is still fresh in the minds of many New Dorp Beach residents, and this project will help ease their concerns about flooding,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “The completion of this new storm sewer system ensures that the community is better protected against future extreme weather events driven by climate change. I’d like to thank our partners at DOT and DDC for helping make these vital infrastructure improvements a reality.”

“This was a complicated project that required changing the elevations of several streets and the project team worked with more than 880 homeowners to ensure that the final product aligned correctly with their yards and driveways,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “To finish off the work, more than 17 acres of new sidewalks and asphalt was installed. This $84 million investment in the New Dorp Beach area will bring some much-needed peace of mind to people in low-lying areas who never had proper storm sewers before.”

“Superstorm Sandy’s devastation on Staten Island was a horrible reminder that climate change is one of our biggest threats,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “This project helps build a safer, more resilient New Dorp Beach for generations to come. We were proud to collaborate with our federal partners and sister agencies at DDC and DEP on this critical infrastructure improvement.”

“We are pleased that the project to install new sewers in New Dorp Beach is now complete. Staten Island is all too familiar with how debilitating flooding can be,” said Borough President Vito Fossella. “New Dorp Beach, unfortunately, suffered greatly during storms like Hurricane Sandy in part because the sewerage and drainage systems were not up to par, or just not there. Now, with new storm sewers, improved road design and catch basins, parts of the neighborhood that are usually inundated with stormwater should be alleviated. We would like to thank DDC, DEP and DOT for seeing this project through, and we especially thank our predecessors, Borough Presidents James Molinaro and James Oddo for championing this needed effort.”

“It’s my pleasure to announce the completion of the Roma-Hett project in New Dorp Beach,” said Council Member David Carr. “This is a massive win for our community. I would like to thank my predecessors Jimmy Oddo and Steve Matteo for getting this project off the ground and ensuring its continuation. It is an honor to be able to be the one to see this project to its end. I would also like to give a big thank you to the Departments of Design and Construction and Environmental Protection for their work, and extend my deepest gratitude to the residents of New Dorp Beach for their patience and willingness to communicate with my office for the entirety of this project. This was a massive undertaking, but now this area is more resilient in the face of flooding due to our collective efforts as a borough.

In addition to a new storm sewer system, the project also rebuilt streets, sidewalks, curbs, water mains and sanitary sewers. More than 17,555 feet (3.32 miles) of old water mains were replaced along with more than 16,852 feet (3.19 miles) of sanitary sewers. Fifty old catch basins were replaced and 101 new ones were added while an additional 83 existing fire hydrants were replaced with new ones.

More than 314,844 square feet (7.23 acres) of old sidewalks were replaced while 16,000 square feet (0.37 acres) of new sidewalks were added throughout the project area, while 19,065 feet (3.61 miles) of old curb was replaced and 8,000 feet (1.51 miles)of new curb was added. Sixty-four pedestrian ramps were upgraded to full ADA compliance while another 56 new ones were installed. The neighborhood also saw a net gain of 86 trees planted by the project. Streets in the project area were paved with 43,560 square yards (9 acres) of new asphalt.

The designer for the project was STV Incorporated of New York and the contractor was JR Cruz of Holmdel, NJ.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction

The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $34 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.

About the NYC Department of Transportation

The New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of our primary customers, City residents. NYC DOT’s staff manage an annual operating budget of $1.4 billion and a ten-year $33 billion capital program, along with 6,300 miles of streets and highways, over 12,000 miles of sidewalk, and approximately 800 bridges and tunnels, including the iconic East River bridges. NYC DOT’s staff also installs and maintains nearly one million street signs, 13,250 signalized intersections, over 315,000 street lights, and over 350 million linear feet of markings.