MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project is now about 40% complete, according to New York City officials.
It's a $1.4 billion investment to prevent devastating flooding like what New York City experienced during Superstorm Sandy.
PIX11 News was granted access to tour the construction site on the Lower East Side on Earth Day.
"It's not just flood walls; it includes a bunch of things the community wants to see like parks, amenities, open space and waterfront access," Elijah Hutchinson said with the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice.
A seawall is being built that will extend about three miles from East 25th Street down to Montgomery Street.
It is being built 100 feet underground, but portions can be seen above ground. The northern part of the wall is visible along the bike and jogging path near East 20th Street. It stuck up about 10 feet and had to be wrapped in plastic because people were defacing it with graffiti.
The project near Houston Street includes a redesigned East River Park, which will be raised nine feet higher than it is now.
"The Esplanade is actually over the East River, on pilings, and it will eventually have pavers and planters and be a great place for people to walk and bike ride," Joseph Lione, the Associate Commissioner of the NYC Department of Design and Construction, told PIX11 News.
"We are protecting 125,000 New Yorkers, 28,000 of which are in public housing, from sea level rise," Tom Foley, the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Design and Construction, said about the end result.
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