Mineola to evaluate sewers near LIRR crossing

The Island Now
Thomas Rini, the Village of Mineola public works superintendent, speaks at the Jan. 18, 2016 Village Board meeting.

By Ted Ryan

The Mineola Village Board on Wednesday approved an evaluation of the sewage collection system near the Long Island Rail Road crossing at Main Street.

The board’s concern about the sewage system there stems from the LIRR’s proposal to build a third track along 9.8 miles of its Main Line.

This construction project would go through the crossing on Main Street in Mineola.

Village Public Works Superintendent Thomas Rini said the LIRR’s proposal for the Willis Avenue railroad crossing as part of the third track project will affect some of the sewer lines in that area.

D&B Engineers & Architects, P.C. will perform the evaluation.

“There may have to be changes in certain sewer flows that will impact the entire sewershed area that then feeds down through Main Street, goes under the tracks at the Main Street crossing and then feeds down through the Nassau County trunk line at Old Country Road,” Rini said.

As part of the $2 billion third track project, the LIRR plans to either close Main Street at the railroad tracks or build a one-way underpass so cars driving on the road would no longer have to cross the tracks.

Willis Avenue would also be made into an underpass, which the LIRR says would improve traffic flow and safety. The railroad also plans to build a pedestrian overpass at that crossing.

The village may need to change the direction of some of the sewer lines in the affected area around Willis Avenue, Rini said.

Rini said he thinks the Main Street sewer evaluation is necessary because of the potential negative effects on local businesses in the area from possible damage to the sewer system that third track construction could cause.

The Village of Mineola is currently in discussion with the LIRR about the railroad covering some or all of the costs of the evaluation, which is about $36,000, Rini said.

Depending on how much of the costs will be covered by the LIRR, the village General Fund, its unreserved fund balance or a combination of the two will pay for the rest, Rini said.

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