WEYMOUTH – A long-awaited sea wall project has cleared another hurdle with the acceptance of Fort Point Road as a public road.
The town wants to build a new sea wall that would be higher than the existing structure while maintaining public access to the beach, and officials hope to install a better drainage system to prevent flooding on Fort Point Road.
The town needs to take ownership of Fort Point Road, which is about 20 feet wide, in order to complete the work.
Town council approved the road acceptance this week, along with Wolcott Street, Chelsey Way, Crest Avenue, Oakdale Street, Quarry Avenue and Rosemary Lane.
The 60-foot right of way will include 24 feet of roadway, sidewalk, revetment and sea wall. The work does not require the taking of land from neighbors.
Several residents spoke in favor of accepting Fort Point Road as a public way during a public hearing in April due to the necessity of the sea wall project.
The state has awarded the town more than $220,000 in recent years for design and permit work for the project.
The Fort Point Road sea wall ranges in age from 55 to 87 years old and has been rated as in “immediate” need of repair. The concrete is cracked and offers little protection during storms.
The area also experiences flooding during astronomical high tides and extreme storms because drainage in the Fort Point Road area is inadequate.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth sea wall project clears hurdle with acceptance of street