PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, announces the start of reconstruction of the Galilee Boat Ramp in Narragansett. The improvements will provide boaters and anglers with improved access to one of Rhode Island's most popular boat ramps. The project is expected to be completed this spring.
The reconstruction involves the complete demolition of the two existing boat ramps and the construction of a new, double-lane, 60-foot wide pre-cast concrete boat ramp with two adjacent rows of floating docks. The work will also include the elevation and expansion of the existing fixed pier walkway to provide access to the pier and floats for boaters with disabilities. The new double-lane system with added floats will greatly increase the efficiency and ease of use of the facility, and is expected to reduce wait times for users of this busy boat ramp.
"When completed with its innovative dock system, the new boat ramp in Galilee will allow boaters who are physically challenged and others to easily board their boats regardless of the level of the tide," noted DEM Director Janet Coit. The new facility will be similar in design to the boat ramps at Haines Memorial State Park in East Providence and the Mt. Hope Boat Launch in Bristol.
The original boat ramp was developed as part of the Galilee North Basin Development project in the late 1980s, and a second launching lane was later installed in the early 1990s. The Galilee facility will be closed during the reconstruction project. Boaters are being re-directed to the town-owned boat ramp at Marina Park in South Kingstown.
Along with the reconstruction of the Colt State Park Fishing Pier, this is the second project to move forward as a result of a five-year partnership between DEM and The Nature Conservancy. The partnership aims to create and improve public access sites for fishing, boating, and hunting throughout Rhode Island.
Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration program and by Rhode Island's Salt Water Fishing License Receipts. The contractor for the $670,311 project is Narragansett Dock Works of Narragansett. The accessible boat ramp was designed by DEM Planning and Development staff.
For additional information about the reconstruction project, contact Andres Aveledo in DEM's Division of Planning and Development at 222-4700 ext. 7235 or via email at Andres.aveledo@dem.ri.gov.