Regarding the Washington Bridge reconstruction

10/17/24

The Town of Charlestown and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are announcing that temporary emergency repair work of the west wall of the Charlestown Breachway is beginning on Friday, Oct. 18. 

The repair work is to prevent further hazards to boaters caused by storm damage to the breachway over the years, reduce the influx of sand into Ninigret Pond, and protect nearby coastal properties from increased erosion and flooding risks. Large angular granite boulders will be placed to partially restore the Breachway’s structural integrity, improve safe navigation, stabilize the coastline, and preserve essential water flow to maintain ecological balance, water quality, and economic stability for the Town of Charlestown. Some sediment will be removed from the breachway to stabilize the placed stones. 

“The Ocean State is on the frontlines of the ongoing impacts of climate change, and the Charlestown Breachway’s current condition is a result of storm damage and coastal erosion from climate impacts,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I am glad that the Town of Charlestown and state agencies are working collaboratively on these necessary temporary repairs as we continue to work together to identify a long-term solution for the breachway.”

“Rhode Island’s coastal communities are increasingly contending with sea level rise, flooding, more frequent and severe storm events, and erosion due to the impacts of climate change," said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Last year, the Charlestown Breachway was damaged by the intense winter storms in December and January, leading to impacts on the channel and environmental conditions in Ninigret Pond. This followed years of loss of beachfront in the area, which brought the ocean much closer to the breakwaters. DEM and the Town of Charlestown remain committed to the successful completion of repairs to the breachway and looking at the long-term repairs and upgrades for this important coastal infrastructure.”

The work is being conducted by RMA GeoEnvironmental of Wickford, RI. The total cost of the temporary repair project is estimated to be around $500,000, with DEM contributing fifty percent of the final project cost up to a maximum of $300,000 from RI Capital Plan Funds, and the Town of Charlestown contributing the funding for the rest of the cost. Boaters should continue using caution when passing through the Breachway, as Town officials, DEM, and the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) remain in collaboration to determine a long-term plan to further repair the breachway.

7/29/24

The CRMC has fast-tracked the permit for demolition of the failing portions of the Washington Bridge with an emergency permit, as it is an imminent peril and a public health and safety issue. This emergency permit only covers the action of demolition and does not preclude the DOT from providing all of the necessary information contained in a standard application; it simply receives priority in the CRMC review timeline.

Work will be done via a barge, with no in-water work at all, so this can be processed at CRMC as a Category A assent.  Pavement will be removed and then the portions of the bridge decking and “superstructure” will be removed via a crane from land and then from a barge.  The in-water piers will be left (DOT is possibly going to reuse them in reconstruction).  Coordination with the harbormaster and U.S. Coast Guard is in place to close the navigational channel and open a channel to the side when that portion of the decking is removed.  There will be temporary fill in the upland areas for staging and placement of the crane. A portion of Valley Street, which had been removed under the 2022 bridge renovation work, will be re-opened temporarily  as a detour while the portion of the bridge over Waterfront Drive is being removed.

As of this date, RI DOT has not yet submitted anything to CRMC, but it is expected soon.

4/18/24

As the bridge and its footings are within R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council jurisdiction, the CRMC and R.I. Department of Transportation are working together toward a solution that satisfies the requirements of the Rhode Island Coastal Program and meets the needs for reliable and safe transport from Providence to the East Bay.

RIDOT will be applying to the CRMC to dismantle the compromised Washington Bridge and construct the new bridge over tidal waters. CRMC permit staff have met with DOT personnel to discuss preliminary plans and will continue to facilitate and assist in this process while ensuring the protection of the State’s coastal resources.

Visit our website for additional information as it becomes available.