Mayor Smiley Announces part of $3 Million Investment in Providence Hurricane Barrier
Construction and traffic changes on Allens Avenue in effect beginning today
PROVIDENCE, RI- Mayor Brett P. Smiley announced earlier this month that $1.5 million in repairs will be made to the City of Providence’s Fox Point Hurricane Barrier. Construction for this project begins today, with this phase of repairs replacing the hydraulic components that operate the sewer gates beneath the Allens Avenue Hurricane Barrier at the intersection of Allens Avenue and Henderson Street.
The project beginning today is part of a larger $3 million investment to the barrier. The additional $1.5 million investment is anticipated to begin in 2024 and will replace all of the road plates at four of the street gates associated with the hurricane barrier levee system. These plates house the components needed to secure the street gates when they are closed during a severe coastal storm or hurricane.
“This infrastructure investment is a critical part of how we can ensure Providence is resilient in the face of intense weather events and climate change,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “Repairs to the hurricane barrier are long overdue and we are committed to making sure that the repairs are completed as quickly and safely as possible.”
Investing and improving the quality of the city’s infrastructure is a top priority of the Smiley Administration. The Allens Avenue hurricane barrier gates play an important role in the City’s ability to protect Downtown from flooding in the event of a storm surge. Currently, the hurricane barrier sewer gates must be manually shut in the event of heavy storms or hurricanes. With the investment being made this month, the City will be able to close the sewer gates more efficiently during an emergency.
The first phase of construction should conclude by mid-August. During this phase of construction, southbound traffic on Allens Avenue will be detoured to Eddy Street, to Blackstone Street, and back onto Allens Avenue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane around the work zone.
The City of Providence has worked diligently with the Army Corps of Engineers, Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Narragansett Bay Commission, Rhode Island Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Johnson & Wales University and the City of Cranston to proactively advise residents and commuters of the traffic changes. The City also encourages residents and commuters to plan accordingly during this time and has been widely communicating traffic changes in local papers, radio and on providenceri.gov. To view the detour route please click here. For questions or more information please call 3-1-1.
