• Drone LiDAR survey
• Metocean data analysis
• Numerical wave modeling
• Vulnerability analysis
• Coastal resilience analysis
• Master planning
• Public outreach meetings
• Permitting
• Cost estimates
• Dune and beach restoration
Challenge
The Corn Neck Road project area, spanning from Old Harbor to Scotch Beach Road in New Shoreham on Block Island, faces increasing threats from erosion, rising sea levels, and storm events. GZA has been engaged by the Town to assess vulnerabilities within this critical corridor, support long-term coastal resilience planning, and provide more immediate site-specific project designs.
Solution
GZA completed a comprehensive site assessment, incorporating publicly available metocean data analyses alongside advanced surveying techniques, such as RTK and LiDAR. Additionally, the analysis was guided by public survey and engagement with project stakeholders, including multiple public stakeholder meetings. These high-resolution methodologies provided essential insights into existing conditions and potential areas of concern and informed future decision-making processes. These site-specific analyses also provided information on potential future storm event scenarios, allowing for more refined guidance on project lifespans and phased project work.
The findings of the Site Vulnerability Assessment served as a foundation for subsequent master planning and design efforts. Six specific vulnerable areas along the site were identified, analyzed, and detailed so that future planning efforts and designs would have a solid foundation. A range of nature-based restoration strategies were explored and evaluated at sites that were the most immediately vulnerable and desired by the town and public to mitigate risks and enhance environmental sustainability.
Benefit
The Master Plan phase of this project evaluates potential future initiatives along the Corn Neck Road Site and establishes a framework for upcoming work that can be adaptive over time aligning future efforts and ensuring a modular and cost-effective approach. Proposed project designs, when implemented, will enhance safe beach access, minimize dune and vegetation disturbance, enhance dune systems and coastal protection, and reduce flooding of the parking areas and roadway. Overall, this effort will increase the resilience of the low-lying Corn Neck Road section.