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Massive Replenishment Project To Begin Along Rockaway Beach

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The first phase of a beach replenishment project will begin this week along Rockaway Beach.

Sen. Charles Schumer announced Sunday that the machines are in place and ready to begin pumping more than three million cubic yards of sand between Beach 19th Street and Beach 149th Street.

"That's enough sand to fill up four Empire State Buildings," said Schumer.

Massive Replenishment Project To Begin Along Rockaway Beach

The first phase of the project will add 600,000 cubic yards of sand to protect homes and businesses all the upper 60 blocks of the replenishment site at a cost of $10 million.

Schumer said without the replenishment, the area will be vulnerable to future storms and face devastation similar to superstorm Sandy.

"One of the best protections is to have adequate sand," said Schumer.

The reconstruction project will be done in two phases to get to mid-1990 dune levels.

"We were able to get the Army Corps to pay the whole 100 percent," said the senator.

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