CRMC to remove hazardous timbers from Providence River

January 26, 2026, PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), along with the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and City of Providence, plans to remove 250 tons of derelict creosote timbers and piers in the Providence River.

This work has been funded through a grant of more than $2.3 million from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program and will entail removing the derelict timbers and piers from the waters of the Providence River surrounding the Point Street Bridge in downtown Providence.  The project will be limited to removing wooden remnants of the bridge’s old swing system and will not interfere with or impact the functional portions of the bridge. Project partners will also be working with Providence Parks and the Downtown Providence Parks Network to engage in public education and outreach opportunities for marine debris prevention.

The Point Street Bridge was built in 1927 as a center-bearing swing-bridge located on the Providence River in Providence. In 1966, a hurricane barrier was constructed downstream of the bridge, blocking larger vessels from passing through and rendering the bridge’s swing feature useless. The bridge’s creosote wooden timber system remains in the river in a severely deteriorated state.

Providence and its harbor have a long history of navigation for industrial and economic purposes, and more recently, for recreation, tourism, and cultural events. The derelict timbers present a hazard to navigation and are a significant environmental concern.

The CRMC and TNC will remove approximately a half-acre of these creosote timbers and piers from the water around the bridge, abating roughly 23,000 square feet of navigation and safety hazards from the waterway.

This project would address a long-standing source of contamination, and provide benefits for sediment, water quality, and species in the area while educating the surrounding community on marine debris removal and its impact and importance on the local economy and job creation. The project would continue the beautification of the urban waterfront, and improve navigational safety and the local economy by enhancing recreational uses and commercial uses of the waterway. Some direct sectors that would likely benefit from the project are commercial boat tours, local marinas, and businesses and industry that support recreational fishing.  

The removal will likely begin in the Spring of 2026 and be fully removed by the end of 2026. Education, public outreach and events will continue into 2027.

“As the Ocean State, we have a responsibility to build a cleaner, greener, and healthier Rhode Island,” said Governor Dan McKee. "Removing this debris will improve this waterway along with the marine life that dwell there.”