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Duxbury officials plead for funding to fix 'failing' seawall

DUXBURY, Mass. — Local and state officials in Duxbury are pleading for funds to fix the town’s failing sea wall.

Last week’s nor’easter was devastating to portions of the infrastructure along the coast and another one heading into New England could exacerbate the problem.

According to local officials, portions of the seawall began crumbling into the ocean after Friday’s historic storm.

“What you’re seeing here is a seawall system which is in crisis and is in the process of failing,” Duxbury Town Manager Rene Read said Tuesday afternoon. “We’re seeking state and federal funding to help with it.”

Read said the town has been monitoring the seawall for some time and knew it was becoming weak.

“The plan is to stabilize and reinforce, especially with the next nor’easter coming tomorrow,” Duxbury Department of Public Works Director Peter Butkus said.

Butkus said this is likely the most vulnerable part of the town ahead of the incoming nor’easter.

“We’re bringing in truckloads of rocks. The idea is to get the armaments in front of the wall, make sure it will hold and then backfill,” said Butkus.

He said it could take a week to 10 days to complete the short-term solution of the wall.

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Officials in Duxbury briefing the status of repairs to the broken seawall ahead of this week's second nor'easter

Posted by Boston 25 News on Tuesday, March 6, 2018

“The long-term solution will wind up being complete replacement of the wall,” Read said.

The old sea wall, completed in the 50s, was not constructed with rebar inside the concrete, meaning it was more prone to crumbling.

Officials repeatedly mentioned the need for state and federal funding to help repair and replace the wall in the long-term.

“It’s a triple threat, we’re seeing more frequent and severe storms, rising sea levels and aging infrastructure,” State Rep. Josh Cutler said. “We’re going to need a longer-term solution.”

MORE: Here's what to expect from the second nor'easter in a week

Tuesday night, the Duxbury Interfaith Council hosted a community spaghetti dinner at the Duxbury Senior Center for for people who have been impacted by the storm.

"Got up this morning and our heat's gone again, totally, and they kept saying go to your car to charge your phone, couldn't even cross the street to get to my parking spot, it’s so windy. So my temperature was 50 degrees those three days at my apartment," Joyce Bean said.

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