At the same time, he and Congressman Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) are working to secure funds for a long-term study aimed at protecting the entire east-west artery that begins in Orient on Route 25, traverses Southold Town as Route 48 and continues through Riverhead as Route 25A (Sound Avenue).

"The next big storm could sever Route 48," Mr. Romaine said. "If County Road 48 is breached, it would be a disaster ... that would paralyze the North Fork.

"It would disrupt all traffic," he said, pointing to the fact that only two roadways -- state Route 25 and County Road 48 -- provide access to the North Fork.

Rebuilding the road if it were breached would be no easy task, the county legislator said.

The County Legislature has authorized County Executive Steve Levy to expend funds and the Department of Public Works to enter into an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to fortify County Road 48 along Hashamomuck Cove, in the general area between Albertson Lane and Old North Road. It's a project Mr. Romaine has been championing for several years since residents approached him with their concerns about erosion. He has since worked with the DPW, the Army Corps and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a plan of action.

The initial project, which is likely to get under way next spring, would take about a year to complete, Mr. Romaine said. It would involve steel sheeting driven into the ground along the road, preventing the roadway from being breached along Hashamomuck Cove. The beach in that area has eroded at the rate of about a foot a year, the county legislator said.

This first step won't protect an estimated six or seven homes along the road that could still be lost in a moderate to severe storm, Mr. Romaine said. While the roadway is the most serious issue, he promised to continue to try to save those homes. "The Army Corps has been waiting on this approval for sometime now and I'm happy we were able to make it happen," he said.

The initial project is estimated to cost about $600,000, Mr. Romaine said. The county and New York State would each contribute 10 percent of the cost, with the federal government paying the remaining 80 percent, he said.

"I want to thank Congressman Bishop," Mr. Romaine said. "He's been a wonderful partner to work with and I do appreciate his efforts."

While the initial project gets under way, Mr. Romaine is continuing to push for a study that would be funded by federal, state and county governments to look at the erosion problems that extend from Route 25 in Orient across all of Sound Avenue in Riverhead Town, he said.

jlane@timesreview.com

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