East Bay Bike Path

The East Bay Bike Path is a 14.5-mile (23.3 km) paved rail trail in Rhode Island. The path begins at Providence and India Point Park, crosses the Seekonk River via the George Redman Linear Park (opened September 2015[1]) and Washington Bridge and continues southeast to Bristol along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay. The path passes through the city of East Providence, the hamlet of Riverside, and the towns of Barrington and Warren. It is part of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile system of trails connecting the Canada–US border in Maine to Key West. and provides access to Haines State Park, Brickyard Pond (Barrington), and Colt State Park. It is used annually by 1.1 million people.

East Bay Bike Path
Facing south near the path's southern terminus in Bristol
East Bay Bike Path
Length14.5 miles (23.3 km)
LocationProvidence County and Bristol County, Rhode Island
Established1992
DesignationEast Coast Greenway
TrailheadsIndia Point Park
Bristol, Rhode Island
UseHiking, Walking, Cycling
Hiking details
SightsNarragansett Bay
SurfaceAsphalt
WebsiteEast Bay Bike Path
Trail map

 India Point Park
Providence
E. Providence
Seekonk River
 East Providence
 1st St.
Veterans Memorial Pkwy.
Watchemoket Cove
 Providence River
Bullocks Point Ave.
 Crescent View Ave.
 Bullock Cove
E. Providence
Barrington
Narragansett Ave.
 Haines Park
 Bay Spring Ave.
 Washington Rd.
 Rhode Island Country Club
 Middle Hwy.
 Brickyard Pond
 Barrington
 County Rd.
 Barrington River
Barrington
Warren
Warren River
 Warren
 Main St.
Warren
Bristol
Narragansett Bay
Colt State Park
 Bristol Harbor
 Bristol
 Independence Park
ferries to Newport
& Prudence Island

History
The former Riverside train station stands next to the East Bay Bicycle Path

The East Bay Bike Path was originally part of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad which opened in 1855 to take trains from Providence to Bristol, Rhode Island. The line changed hands several times through the years, eventually falling under the ownership of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad and all passenger service was discontinued in 1937.[2] Freight service continued intermittently until the railroad went bankrupt, and the branch was completely abandoned by New Haven successor Penn Central in 1973. Interestingly enough however, despite having been out of service by trains for 45+ years, tracks still remain along many parts of the old route as the trail in some places was constructed beside the right-of-way, rather than on top [2]

The plan for Rhode Island's first major bike path was approved in April 1983 by Governor Edward DiPrete. It was built between 1987 and 1992,[3] following the abandoned rail bed of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad. The property was acquired and constructed in four phases:

  1. Riverside Square to Barrington County Road (4.17 miles or 6.71 kilometres)
  2. County Road, Barrington to Franklin Street, Warren (2.38 miles or 3.83 kilometres)
  3. Franklin Street, Warren to Independence Park, Bristol (3.87 miles or 6.23 kilometres)
  4. Riverside Square to India Point Park, Providence (3.98 miles or 6.41 kilometres)

The completed path was dedicated on May 31, 1992 by Governor Bruce Sundlun. An 8.5 mile on-road bike lane was completed in 2011, linking the East Bay Bike Path with the south tip of the Blackstone River Bikeway, a 48-mile (77 km) trail that will link Providence with Worcester, Massachusetts. Rhode Island's next project will be connecting the East Bay Bike Path with the Washington Secondary Rail Trail.

Repairs and upgrade

Tree roots, erosion, and weather necessitated repairs to the asphalt in 2002, 2007, and 2009.[4] Repairs in mid-2016 targeted the most hazardous areas of the path.[4] Pavement was repaired, destructive tree roots removed, eroded areas reinforced, and new planks were installed on the Barrington bridges.[4]

A section of the bike path was renovated and rebuilt along the Washington Bridge between 2012 and 2015.[5] The park was christened the George Redman Linear Park, opened in September 2015 at a total cost of $21.8-million.[1] It consists of an 11-foot wide bicycle lane, a separated footpath paved with stamped concrete, and several seating areas[1] and is completely separated from I-195 automobile traffic. It was named in honor of East Providence cyclist George Redman.[6][7] A plaque honoring Redman can be seen on the west end of the park.

References
  1. Kuffner, Alex (21 September 2015). "$21.8-million George Redman Linear Park is dedicated to pioneer of R.I. bike paths". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  2. "East Bay Bike Path". Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
  3. Salit, Richard (4 July 2016). "RIDOT to smooth brain-rattling, spine jarring stretches of East Bay Bike Path". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  4. "RIDOT to begin Washington Bridge linear park project". RI.GOV. State of Rhode Island. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  5. http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/Legendary-Local-Cyclist-Inspires-Washington-Bridge-Replacement/21959/
  6. http://www.dot.ri.gov/community/bikeri/washingtonbridge.php
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