DUNKIRK, N.Y. — 2 On Your Side is asking tough questions on how a $4 million breakwall in the City of Dunkirk, which is relatively new, collapsed from 50 mile per hour winds and high water. That is a question that lawmakers in Dunkirk are also asking, and whether there were any design flaws with the project.
There are questions as to how and why the pricey breakwall along Lake Erie in Dunkirk was damaged, following a wind storm last week.
The breakwall is supposed to be standing proud, but instead blocks in wall have shifted. And to make matters worse, a second wind storm just a few days ago left the wall in tatters.
"Our new $4 million lake wall has taken a beating unlike anything it was designed for," said Dunkirk's Director of Public Works Randy Woodbury.
But that first wind storm, two weeks ago, brought winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour, nothing earth-shattering.
"You're saying that wall is not meant to sustain such winds why was it even built if that's the case when it wouldn't have been able to sustain 50 or 60 mph winds which you get down here in Dunkirk?" Asked 2 On Your Side's Jeff Preval.
"It depends on which way the wind blows from so like I said a perfect storm it was a combination of those 50 mile per hour winds from the wrong direction," Woodbury said.
But those winds came from the south, which is pretty common for Dunkirk.
We spoke to a Dunkirk council member who thought the breakwall would last a lot longer.
"Of course we have concerns that it didn't hold up but we have to figure out what the problem was at this point there's no reason to try to point fingers at anyone if we don't know what the actual problem was," said Michael Civiletto, a Dunkirk council member.
Mayor Willie Rosas told 2 On Your Side construction of the wall was finished five years ago. And that the city has received some grants from the state to build the wall, but the vast majority has fallen on Dunkirk taxpayers.
Now the city is working with an independent engineer to answer questions related to the design and construction of the wall, and the weather it has endured. Because there are so many questions related to this breakwall project, 2 On Your Side has filed a Freedom of Information request with the City of Dunkirk to review documents, materials and all the costs related to this project.