Acrow opens two modular steel bridges on Rhode Island’s East Bay Bike Path

Acrow completed and opened two permanent modular steel bridges in Barrington and Warren, restoring full access on Rhode Island’s East Bay Bike Path. The replacements are designed to improve safety, reduce environmental disruption and deliver long-term durability for a heavily used recreational corridor.

Why it matters: - The new bridges restore a key 14.5-mile recreational and commuter route used by cyclists, pedestrians and visitors between Providence and Bristol. - The permanent replacements are designed to improve safety, connectivity and resilience after the original structures were closed in 2019. - The project gives Rhode Island a long-life infrastructure solution with less environmental disturbance than the aging bridges it replaced.

What happened: - Acrow announced the successful completion and opening of two modular steel bridges along the East Bay Bike Path in Rhode Island. - The bridges cross the Palmer River in Warren and the Barrington River in Barrington. - RIDOT closed the original bridges in 2019 because of deterioration. - Temporary detours, including bike path segments and boardwalks along adjacent vehicular bridges, kept the trail open during reconstruction. - Acrow delivered the bridge structures to Aetna Bridge Company for assembly and installation.

The details: - The East Bay Bike Path is a 14.5-mile paved trail stretching from Providence to Bristol. - The original bridges were built in the 1880s as railroad bridges and were converted for bike use in the 1980s. - RIDOT selected Acrow’s prefabricated modular steel bridges to address structural, environmental and budget constraints. - The new bridges use a high-strength, lightweight design that requires smaller foundations than the original 19th-century structures. - Each bridge is supported by a single central pier, which reduces in-water work and limits disruption to riverbeds and aquatic habitats. - The bridges were assembled and installed with a cantilever launch from shore, avoiding the need for cranes or barges in the river. - The low-profile configuration also reduced the need for overhead utility relocations. - One bridge measures 280 feet, or 85.34 meters, and the other measures 300 feet, or 91.44 meters. - Each structure has a 14-foot, or 4.5-meter, walkway width. - The deck uses silica sand for durability and low maintenance. - The bridges were designed to support electrical duct banks on the underside for current and future utility installation.

Between the lines: - The project shows how modular bridge systems can shorten construction timelines while limiting environmental impact on sensitive waterways. - The design choices point to a tradeoff Acrow and RIDOT prioritized: faster delivery and lower maintenance over rebuilding with heavier, more invasive methods. - Acrow framed the project as part of a broader market for recreational trail infrastructure, especially where access and site constraints complicate traditional bridge work.

What's next: - The restored East Bay Bike Path should support uninterrupted daily use for recreation and transportation now that both crossings are open. - The bridges are intended to provide long-term service with minimal maintenance. - Acrow said its modular systems are designed for a 100-year-or-more service life.

The bottom line: - Two permanent modular bridges now reconnect one of Rhode Island’s busiest trails, with less river disruption and more durable access for years ahead.

More information: Acrow