The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced the findings of a recent analysis of the two wooden-decked bridges on the East Bay Bike Path, which span the Barrington and Palmer rivers. The report found that because of deterioration to the supports for the sidewalks on either side of both bridges, RIDOT must close the sidewalks on both bridges effective immediately.
The closures do not affect the use of the bridges for cyclists for the 14.5-mile bike path which runs from Providence to Bristol.
RIDOT will place barrels and signage indicating that the sidewalks on the bridge are closed. Just as on other sections of the bike path, pedestrians and cyclists must share the path. Additionally, the vehicular bridges adjacent to both bike path bridges have sidewalks on both sides for pedestrian use.
Following the sidewalk closures, RIDOT will further analyze the bridges to determine the feasibility of making repairs and to determine an expected timetable for the duration of the closures.
The bridges were last rehabilitated as part of the second contract to build the East Bay Bike Path, a segment from County Road in Barrington to Franklin Street in Warren, in 1990.