Rhode Island to Raise Pedestrian Bridge

With silt building up in the Providence River and dredging costs expected to rise, planners are looking instead at raising a pedestrian bridge linking parks on both sides.

The Providence Journal reports that the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission is preparing for construction of the parks and a pedestrian bridge. It’s considering the types of boats that will fit under the bridge and the view of the water.

Commissioner John M. Kelly wanted to know what size boats might fit underneath the bridge in years to come.

He said he’s not thinking about 2015 but asked how the public will use the bridge in in 2025.

The issue of navigability relates to silt that has built up on the river’s bottom, which hasn’t been dredged in years.