East Bay Bike Path bridges reopen after 6-year, $26 million rebuild

BARRINGTON, R.I. — Two long-awaited bridges along Rhode Island’s East Bay Bike Path have officially reopened after a $26 million, 6-year-long reconstruction project, restoring uninterrupted access along one of the state’s most popular recreational routes.

The rebuilt spans, one crossing the Barrington River in Barrington and the other over the Palmer River in Warren, had been closed since 2019 after inspections found the original structures had deteriorated into unsafe condition. The old railroad-era bridges dated back to the 1880s.

The new bridges, each about 300 feet long and 14 feet wide, were constructed using prefabricated modular truss systems designed to reduce environmental impact, speed installation, and improve long-term durability, according to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

The reopening restores the full 14.5-mile continuous bike path connection from Providence to Bristol, ending years of detours that cyclists and pedestrians had to navigate while the crossings were out of service.

RIDOT officials said the project stayed on budget, though construction faced delays after a major funding gap emerged in 2021 when rising construction costs pushed estimates higher. Federal funding later helped close that gap and move the project forward.

The Barrington bridge also includes a new fishing pier, adding another public access feature to the rebuilt crossing.