Fox Point in Providence in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Providence River Bridge
Its Design and Construction
⎯⎯⎯
Its Journey Up Narragansett Bay by Barges
| | Providence Harbor Walk at Fox Point & India Point | |
Design: The Providence River Bridge is 1,235 feet long and 164 feet wide. Its arch span is 80 feet high and 400 feet long. This structure is a modern day architectural and engineering feat that also serves as an inviting entrance to Providence's Old Harbor. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) oversaw a citizens' committee to review designs of several bridge types submitted by the engineers, the Maguire Group, and William D. Warner, Architects and Planners. Under the Department's guidance the committee selected a tied network arch bridge (pictured above), commonly used in Europe. The diagonal cables cross each other at least twice resulting in a very slender and graceful arch and tie. The bottom ends of the arch are linked together with a tie beam, which absorbs the outward thrust of the arch. The Federal Highway Administration provided the majority of the funding for the project.
Construction: RIDOT devised an ingenious construction strategy that shaved a full year from the schedule. Instead of constructing the bridge over open water in Providence,
this page online
Its Journey Up Narragansett Bay by Barges
RIDOT working with the Cardi Corporation, builder of the Providence River Bridge, chose Mammoet, a Dutch-based company to move it. Before the tied arch span of the bridge could be towed 12 miles north over the waters of Narragansett Bay from Quonset Point, it needed to be raised 30 feet up in the air. Mammoet
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 41° 48.954′ N, 71° 24.029′ W. Marker is in Providence, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in Fox Point. It is at the intersection of Bridge Street and India Street, on the left when traveling north on
Regionally, this marker is on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Providence River Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonial Wharf at South Water Street: 1910-1942 / Fox Point and the Night Boat Era 1822-1932 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier / A Second Life for the Hurricane Barrier (about 400 feet away); The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier / From Oil to Gas (about 800 feet away); 18 Bridge Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Manchester Street Station / The Providence River (approx. 0.2 miles away); Greg Was Here (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fu'una (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Providence.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 22, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
