The end of Black Point Road on Prouts Neck saw significant erosion, so much so that guard rails are no longer staked into the ground. Contributed / Town of Scarborough
Repairs to Black Point Road on Prouts Neck, heavily damaged by storms in January, are “quite a ways out at this point,” likely starting in fall or early winter, according to Scarborough Town Manager Tom Hall.
The necessary work, estimated at $4 million to be reimbursed by FEMA, is much broader than recent work at Higgins Beach to repair storm damage there, Hall said.
“This one is more complicated from a permitting standpoint and also execution,” he said. “It’s a pretty massive project.”
Town officials said the Prouts Neck end of Black Point Road was immediately closed down to one lane after the January storms. Contributed / Town of Scarborough
The end of the road, past the Black Point Inn, will be closed to the public until it is fixed. Guard rails at some points along the road on Prouts Neck are no longer staked into the ground due to the storm erosion.
Conceptual plans are in place for the repair project. The town will soon begin consulting engineers to survey the area and prepare detailed designs.
The town is also working with state agencies to “restore as many natural systems as possible,” Town Engineer Angela Blanchette said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Cliff Walk owned and operated by the Prouts Neck Improvement Association, is closed and will remain off limits at least for the rest of the year because of the January storm damage.
“The Cliff Walk suffered substantial damage in the major winter storms, and in a number of places, its shoreline is impassable,” John Hawkins, association president, said in an email to the Leader. “The destruction of cliff walls, bridges, vegetation, and natural terrain was extensive. In its present condition, it is unsafe for passage, and it remains closed through at least the balance of 2024 into 2025.”
Hawkins said the association is meeting regularly to evaluate the situation and come up with the next steps.
“The extent of the repairs to be undertaken is not yet known. The Cliff Walk is private property,” he said. “Funding and resources for the Cliff Walk’s management, maintenance and repair is provided by the residents of Prouts Neck. No public funds are utilized.”
The town is working with the group on the repairs to the neighborhood.
“We have worked directly with the Prouts Neck Improvement Association as to how things are going to work for this summer,” Hall said. “At the same time, we’ve been working through some of the regulatory and permission pieces.”
The organization has a long history of working with the town of advocating for the Prouts Neck neighborhood. In addition to overseeing the Cliff Walk, it helps ensure the maintenance and safety of roads, protects vegetation from destruction and is a liaison between residents and town officials.
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