Global Courant
Rhode Island wants federal funds to help pay for a portion of the nearly $14 million needed to repair the damaged Cliff Walk in Newport, one of New England’s most popular attractions.
Governor Dan McKee issued a disaster declaration Tuesday allowing the state Department of Transportation to request $10 million in emergency relief funds from the Federal Highway Administration.
Coastal erosion in March 2022 knocked out about 30 feet of the 3.5-mile paved trail, which winds its way past Gilded Age mansions and offers spectacular ocean views. No one was injured.
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The trail sustained additional damage during a December storm.
It remains open with a detour around the damage.
Newport, Rhode Island’s iconic Cliff Walk, which suffered extensive damage after erosion took away about 30 feet of the path along the water’s edge last March. Rhode Island is exploring the possible use of federal funds to repair the walkway, one of New England’s top tourist attractions. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
“The collapse and partial shutdown could cause significant damage to tourism in Newport, an important driver of the local economy,” the Democratic governor said in a statement. “The affected area is now closed as it is at risk of further erosion and collapse, posing a threat to public safety.”
A study published in 2018 estimated that more than 1.3 million people walk the trail annually, boosting the local economy by $200 million.
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“When I took office at the end of last year, I immediately started seeking help to repair the Cliff Walk,” said Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong. “Restoring this iconic American vista for future generations to enjoy will require a local, state and federal partnership, which the governor opens a path to with this statement.”
This isn’t the first time the state has sought federal funding to repair the Cliff Walk. In 2013 Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse secure $5.13 million to make repairs after Superstorm Sandy.
“The federal government must do its part to ensure the safety and sustainability of this national treasure,” Reed said in a statement.
Global Courant
The state estimates that extensive repairs to Cliff Walk could cost up to $13.75 million.
