Long Beach boardwalk demo to begin Saturday

LONG BEACH, N.Y. (AP) -- The remnants of the Sandy-ravaged Long Beach boardwalk will be demolished, starting Saturday.

City Councilman Scott Mandel called the boardwalk the "heart and soul of Long Beach" but said it must be replaced by a new and stronger boardwalk.

The storm rendered the 2.2-mile boardwalk unsafe and unviable.

Officials of the Long Island city said residents can come by on Saturday to say goodbye to the "iconic landmark" before the demolition begins.

The demolition is expected to take about a month. The boardwalk was built in 1914.

Mandel tells Newsday he hopes the new boardwalk will be in place by the summer. It will cost about $25 million.