Workers began installing temporary bulkheads at the Barrington and Warren River bike path bridges last week. 

The work, said Rhode Island Department of Transportation Spokesman Charles St. Martin, is part of the ongoing preparations for the demolition of the two bike path bridges. The bulkheads — large metal sheeting driven into the ground along the water’s edge — will allow the contractor to utilize a barge at the site. 

The bulkheads are being constructed on the western sides of both bike path bridges, St. Martin said. 

“That’s part of the prep work,” he added. 

Crews have been busy at the bridges during the last couple of weeks. Their work signals the start of the long-awaited bike path bridges replacement project. The DOT has contracted with Aetna Bridge Company to lead the work to replace the existing bridges which inspectors found to be badly eroded and unsafe; officials closed the wooden trestle bridges in 2019. 

St. Martin said the DOT expects the demolition to begin in mid- to late-August. He said the initial plan calls for the sub-contractor to remove the Barrington River bike path bridge first, followed by the Warren River bike path bridge. St. Martin said the contractor is communicating with the sub-contractor and the order of the demolition could change. He said the work will take place during daytime hours. 

Boaters beware

Barrington Harbormaster Brian Hunt is reminding boaters to play it safe near the bike path bridge construction areas as work gets underway. 

The bike path bridges can present challenges to the most experienced boaters during normal conditions, as the rivers narrow and currents rip hard through those stretches. The sites will be even more dangerous as crews begin the demolition process.

Hunt said the state will be maintaining an opening for boat traffic in that area. 

“…we will be very diligent in patrolling the area,” Hunt wrote in an email to the Barrington Times. “…We need boaters to be aware of the construction area and pay very close attention to any posted signage and follow the rules of navigation.”

St. Martin said the areas should be considered closed to boaters during the actual demolition. He said that is generally the rule when there is live action construction taking place. 

“For safety, we wouldn’t want to have people under that,” St. Martin said, referring to the bike path bridges. He added that contractors closed the waterways to boaters during construction at other bridges. 

Fishing from bridges

For years, fishermen frequented the East Bay Bike Path bridges to drop their lines in anticipation of a big catch. 

But before the DOT closed the bridges to pedestrians and bicyclists, it blocked off the sidewalks and installed fences along both sides that made it impossible to fish from the spans. 

St. Martin said the new bike path bridges will not block people from fishing. He added that the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is responsible for managing the paths, and will be in charge of the bridges once work is completed. St. Martin reached out to the DEM to learn more about whether there will be any restrictions for fishing from the bike path bridges. 

Mike Healey, the spokesman for DEM, told St. Martin that the DEM does not have any official policy regarding fishing from bike path bridges. He said DEM is currently studying the issue.