The break wall along Lake Front Boulevard is being tested by Lake Erie during this storm. Photo courtesy of Dunkirk's Department of Public Works

Lake Front Boulevard’s break wall is taking a beating.

Waves on Friday afternoon were crashing over the top cap and railing of $4 million structure that was built in 2017 and had $1 million in damage after a 2019 storm.

According to Dunkirk Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury, the lake height from the storm was 578.18 feet above sea level on Friday. That is near the record height that was recorded in 2008 at 578.59.

Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas and the city Department of Public Works worked with FEMA to fund the fix in 2020 while adding steel plates and long bolts, which hold it together better than first design.

Woodbury said the added bolts worked for the major December 2021 wind storm, but a full fix will be segmented for offshore breakwaters and similar to those at Presque Isle.

Recent grants will not fully cover these, but it will assist in building a wall near the marina to help that operation.

Future funding is hoped to add the segmented breakwaters to protect Lake Front Boulevard.