The elected officials called it “high quality badgering.” Rep. Jason Knight agreed. 

The Barrington resident and local representative said it was a persistent push by East Bay legislators and other local officials that helped convince the state to replace the East Bay Bike Path bridges. On Monday afternoon, April 6, the state held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the bridge replacement projects.

Rep. Knight said the elected officials worked hard to communicate the important role the bridges play. He said Barrington representatives spoke about the number of local children who rode their bikes over the bike path bridge to get to school each day. He said Warren representatives explained the economic impact the bridges had on the local businesses. 

“Anything less than a total rebuild was not satisfactory,” Rep. Knight said.

The message was received, loud and clear, and it was echoed during Monday’s event. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee credited the East Bay legislators — he singled out Sen. Walter Felag for capturing his attention a few years back.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse praised the work of the local officials — he called it “high quality badgering” and thanked Cindy Coyne, Knight, Jen Boylan, Felag, and Liana Cassar. 

Congressman Gabe Amo said the alternative plans for the bike path — rerouting walkers and bikers onto the main roads and later onto wooden boardwalks — was not ideal. He said the recently completed bridges will help improve the quality of life for people in Rhode Island. Congressman Amo said people are working harder than ever.

“The sun’s come out for a reason,” Congressman Amo said. “We deserve it.”

Congressman Seth Magaziner shared memories of growing up in Bristol and Rollerblading on the East Bay Bike Path. He said he and his wife now take their two children on the path. He said the new bridges will be there for generations to come. He also called the East Bay Bike Path “one of the crown jewels of Rhode Island.”

Congressman Magaziner was also quick to praise the work of the East Bay legislators — he said they did a great job advocating for the project.

Sen. Jack Reed thanked Sen. Whitehouse for partnering with him as they secured a $5 million federal earmark for the bike path bridge projects. In total, the federal government paid $14 million of the $25 million overall price tag for the work. 

“This will pay off for generations and generations,” Sen. Reed said. 

Bridges draw a crowd

Elected officials from the local, state and federal level crowded onto the western approach of the new bike path bridge in Barrington on Monday afternoon.  

Television cameras stood ready on tripods. Reporters held high their phones to capture images of the crowd. The microphone-laden podium stood alone in front of the group, waiting for the celebration to begin. 

And then the double-stroller approached. A dad and his two young children, unaware that the state was about to hold a special ribbon-cutting event for the newly-finished East Bay Bike Path bridges, waded into the mass of bodies from the east. A patient but persistent effort was rewarded a few moments later, as the young family emerged from the dignitaries and pushed on toward the Barrington Shopping Center.

The state leaders were unfazed, too.

Bob Rocchio, the interim director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, welcomed the crowd and shared details of the new bike path bridges: He said they were each about 300 feet in length and 14 feet wide; the bridges completed a continuous stretch of path that ran 14.5 miles; and the project cost about $25 million.

“It was nice to see the amount of people that showed up, not just for the event, but who were using the path. A lot of bikers. The crowds were actually impeding their flow across the bridges, but that’s a good thing,” Rocchio said. “It’s all great. It’s great to see it’s being used and see the smiles on peoples’ faces. They’re happy with the new amenities, the fishing pier that provides a place for people to fish, and they’re not interfering with the flow of traffic on the bike path. I know that was an issue. 

“The old bridges had all these pilings. There were only certain openings for boats to go through. This has one center pier.”

Rocchio said the new bridges are safer for boaters, people using the path and for the fishermen, who can cast their lines off the pier. 

“I think it came out really nice,” he said. 

Work has already started to dismantle the wooden boardwalks on the vehicle bridges. 

“This is obviously a better solution,” Rocchio said. “They’re not being rerouted onto the roadways. We had to narrow the roads to get that (boardwalk) in there. Now we can take that off. We can put back the wider lanes for vehicles. Bike users can stay on the path.”

Kerry O’Neill, a member of the Barrington Town Council, was one of the many people who attended the ribbon-cutting on Monday. 

“The amount of joy and health and happiness this is going to bring to the community is amazing,” O’Neill said about the new bike path bridges. “I’m thrilled…For me, I’m very lucky, I live right off the bike path.”

O’Neill said he was very happy to see the state follow through on the bike path bridge projects, and not the wooden boardwalks that ran along the vehicle bridges. 

“I think this is the right way to go,” he said. “And I’ll add that the fishing piers is a true bonus. I know that there’s a lot of anglers in town who will really appreciate that.”