Funding restored to Mastic-Shirley sewer project

The Mastic-Shirley Forge River sewer project is a go, again.

Today, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced the utilization of over $40 million in American Rescue Plan money to restore the funding for the Mastic-Shirley and the Carlls River sewer projects.

The project went out to BID earlier this year for three of the project components in Phase 1 and 2. However, due to COVID-19, implications in funding have caused a delay in moving forward as the search for additional money continued.

According to Suffolk County Legislature presiding officer Rob Calarco, BIDs for all three of the county’s sewer projects, including Mastic-Shirley, Patchogue and Deer Park, came in 20 to 30 percent overestimates.

Now with funding restored, the project is expected to break ground, first at the treatment facility, after Bid contracts are finalized. Calarco said the county is continuing to pursue federal dollars to restore funding for the Patchogue project to hook up 500 additional homes. The county also announced $30 million for a wastewater system replacement program for all homes not within the sewer districts.