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Light Rain Culvert to be replaced on Valley Stream Boulevard
Road could close as early as next month
Village officials have taken action to replace a deteriorating culvert on Valley Stream Boulevard, approving a $1.176 million construction project. The culvert carries a stream under the road, where it then runs through the Village Green.
While the road is still safe for cars, Village Clerk Vinny Ang said that they are trying to be proactive before the culvert falls into further disrepair. “Are we being overly cautious?” he asked. “Maybe. But you have to be.”
Ang said much of the culvert has been washed away, and there is noticeable damage when looking at it from underneath. Several months ago, the sidewalks on both sides of the road were closed because Ang said the culvert is weaker along each end. Because the road bed itself was repaired several years ago, it is still strong enough for cars to pass over.
A storm pipe, which feeds into the stream just as it enters the Village Green, has contributed to the culvert’s deterioration. Ang said that storm water, which comes from Hicks Street, enters with such high velocity and then swirls around, damaging the culvert walls.
Village engineer Tony Cella said that when the new culvert is installed, it will be moved about 25 feet east toward Hicks Street. As it is now, the stream runs under Valley Stream Boulevard on an angle. Cella said the stream will now run straight under the road, then turn once it reaches the Village Green. The old stream bed will be filled in.
There will also be some additional enhancements. Cella said that large rocks will be placed on the side of the stream bed to prevent erosion. Additionally, a wire basket will be installed to collect “floatables” such as bottles, cans and other litter. Highway crews can then simply empty the basket out.
Ang said the new culvert will have a arch-top, which he said will be stronger than the existing culvert was built in the 1910s or ’20s, prior to the existence of the village. The village has sued Nassau County to pay for the culvert replacement, saying that the county owns and maintains the waterways. County officials have said the culvert replacement is the village’s responsibility because Valley Stream Boulevard is a village-maintained street.
