York’s Cliff Walk repair estimate skyrockets to $5.8 million
A sign along the York Cliff Walk, seen in May, warns that the trail is unsafe because of damage from January 2024's destructive storms. Town officials are attempting to repair the scenic walk, but the Select Board learned this week that the estimated cost has ballooned to six times what was originally anticipated. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)
Months after York voters approved funding to begin repairing the historic Cliff Walk, the Select Board learned this week that the full cost of restoring the seaside trail could be nearly six times the initial estimate.
Emergency Management Director Nicole Pestana said at a Monday meeting that a stability assessment of the walk — which was nearly destroyed by storms in January 2024 — revealed more damage than anticipated. What would have been a $1 million project could now cost just over $5.8 million.
Residents in May voted overwhelmingly in favor of spending $180,000 toward repairs. At the time, that was expected to cover about a third of the work.
Now, town leaders are assessing their options, including a potential partial repair.
CONTINUED ACCESSIBILITY OBSTACLES
Pestana said in a May interview that there are a number of factors that make the restoration difficult, like building for long-term stability and securing permits.
But the most significant issue driving up the cost is accessibility.
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“The lay of the land does not allow us to access the path with equipment and supplies,” Pestana said this week.
The Cliff Walk begins at the entrance of Harbor Beach, where it’s several feet away from the water. As it continues, portions of the walk become more exposed to the ocean and sit on nothing but crumbling concrete and unstable sand.
Pestana originally expected the town would need to use a barge to access those areas and bring in heavy equipment. But she told the board this week that using a helicopter would be cheaper and more efficient.
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The town also faces accessibility issues on the other side of the walk, where it abuts private property. Engineers could obtain easements from property owners but haven’t approached any yet.
Much of the repair would require a concrete pumper, and it would be ideal to access the repair site from those properties. The alternative would require more labor and equipment to hand-carry materials, significantly raising the cost.
Even with easements, the labor associated with the full repair and the extent of the damage would drive the cost up even further.
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OFFICIALS CONSIDER PARTIAL REPAIR
Pestana presented two repair options to the board — with drastically different cost estimates.
The first would be a partial reconstruction up to the halfway point of the existing walk. The repaired walk would start in the same spot at but would have no exit point like it’s had previously.
Engineers told the Emergency Management Department that option would cost just over $927,000, covering the use of a helicopter, concrete to repair a failed wall and pinning the walk to the bedrock, ensuring long-term durability.
A previous estimate from another engineering firm had put that cost around $500,000 before the more extensive damage was found. That would only cover the cost of removing damaged mortar and replacing it, which wouldn’t protect the walk from future disasters.
The other option would be a full repair for $5.8 million. It would fix the same issues and fortify the walk, but securing that much funding would be dicey, Select Board members said.
Another, much smaller portion along the path could be repaired, and funding from the last budget cycle would cover that option without federal help, but voters would be getting a fraction of the walk they were expecting.
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Board member Robert Palmer asked if other options, like installing a bridge instead, had been considered. Pestana said that wouldn’t hold up well and could create a bog-like environment as stagnant water is trapped. And without pinning a concrete structure to the bedrock, long-term stability would still be at risk.
FUNDING COMPLICATIONS
Some funding for the project will come from the town’s disaster relief balance and the state, but the bulk would come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Federal officials assessed the site in the spring of 2024 and determined the damage was part of a disaster, which meant the town was eligible to receive a federal reimbursement for the repair. But if the town chooses to pursue a full restoration, that funding could become complicated.
The original $1 million estimate meant the town would be reimbursed as the project was completed, because it fell under a FEMA threshold. But pursuing a full repair would mean the town would have to wait until every penny is spent before getting paid back.
“I want to take care of a natural resource, but I also know what we have for future obligations,” board member Mary-Anne Szeniawaski. “Public safety needs to come before public pleasure.”
Committing to the partial repair would cover what voters have already supported and would keep the cost under $1 million. But it would also mean “abandoning” the rest of the Cliff Walk because FEMA would only fund the initial request, Pestana said.
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“I’ll say it right now, I’m not in favor of the $5.8 million,” Vice Chair Marla Johnson said. “I think the partial may be something that should go into our capital planning process.”
Pestana said the Select Board would need to make a decision quickly to bring the question to the May 2027 ballot, though the town would need an extension from FEMA to secure funding because an 18-month request period has passed.
Waiting longer could mean more damage and worsening conditions for repair, especially as a “super” El Niño develops this year. Pestana said FEMA could choose not to touch the project if the area suffers more damage, because it would be hard to determine which damage is new.
The Select Board did not make any decisions at the Aug. 24 meeting but will discuss the issue further at future meetings.
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Tagged: construction, Federal Emergency Management Agency, york county Maine, york select board
Isabelle Oss is a community reporter covering Kittery, Berwick, North Berwick, South Berwick, York and Ogunquit. Born and raised in Colorado, she moved to Maine in April 2026. Isabelle holds a master’s. More by Isabelle Oss
