$16 million in federal funds obtained for crumbling Cliff Walk. How it will be used

NEWPORT – The rebuilding of the famed Cliff Walk appears closer to reality following federal assistance announced Monday evening.

Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Congressman Gabe Amo announced that more than $16 million has been awarded to the state "to fix and fortify the Cliff Walk."

According to a release from Reed's office a $5 million federal earmark they jointly secured in the Fiscal 2024 Consolidated Appropriations law, which President Joe Biden signed in March, and a new $11,000,800 Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant, will be used to aid the waterfront attraction.

The $5 million federal earmark will help pay for engineering and design work. While the $11 million federal PROTECT funds may be used to shore up infrastructure vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

City of Newport communications director Thomas Shevlin said the city's initial repair estimate is $14 million, which was the amount included in the city's grant application for the funds. He said the federal funds will be will be supplemented by $2.75 million in local support, bringing the total grant to $13.75 million.

"At this point, our expectation is that will take care of the Webster Street collapse, while we’ll be utilizing the $5 million earmark to conduct a thorough existing conditions assessment for the full length of the walk," Shevlin said.

The funds come following three instances during the past two years in which sections of the over 3-mile trail has been closed to the public due to collapses and a sinkhole.

In March of 2022, a section of the paved trail between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Avenue collapsed due to coastal erosion exacerbated by severe inclement weather incidents. Later that year in December, a second section in that area collapsed following winter storms. The latest closure occurred earlier this month when a sinkhole was observed on part of a raised walkway stretching from Clarendon Court to Miramar.

While both areas have been closed to the public, detours are in place for walkers to continue along the trail.

“This historic public path is a national treasure and an environmental and economic asset for the city of Newport and the entire state. I’m pleased to help deliver this federal funding to rescue and restore the Cliff Walk. This federal funding will help make the walking trail safer and preserve its natural and historic significance for future generations,” Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, said in a statement.

Engineering services in place

The Newport City Council retained the services of an engineering firm in February to provide design and construction administration for repairs to the Cliff Walk with the goal of having the project ready when funding would be received.

The council unanimously approved a $414,580 contract for Providence-based GZA Geoenvironmental to design and oversee the construction of the needed repair work along the Cliff Walk.

The city previously had a $154,315 contract with GZA Geoenvironmental to conduct pre-design investigations and schematic-level engineering design services for the collapsed area, which was approved by the council in April 2022. GZA will now be responsible for 30%, 60% and 100% design schematics for repairs to the Cliff Walk, solicit a contractor for the construction work and provide engineering and construction oversight on the project.

Additional funding still being sought

In June of 2023, McKee issued an emergency disaster declaration for the Cliff Walk hoped the declaration could help the city acquire up to $10 million in federal disaster relief money to fund the project. That effort, however, was denied.

McKee has since set aside $8 million of a $50 million green bond for Cliff Walk repairs as part of his FY25 budget. Shevlin said the city remains hopeful that amount will remain in the bond.

"As to the state’s Green Bond allocation, we’re deeply appreciative of the support of Gov. McKee and the General Assembly, and are very hopeful that proposal will remain a part of the final statewide ballot," Shevlin said.

A 2018 study by students at Salve Regina University, estimated that the Cliff Walk attracts 1.3 million visitors per year and adds $200 million in economic impact for Rhode Island.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cliff Walk fix nears following $16 million in federal funding award