Friday, May 9, 2025
Partial lane closures on Allens Avenue will be in effect from May 12 to June 13, 2025, for Fox Point Hurricane Barrier Gate reinstallation
Mayor Brett P. Smiley and the Department of Public Works (DPW) today announced the reinstallation of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier Street Gates on Allens Avenue and at the Manchester Street Power Station. This phase follows the comprehensive off-site repair and refurbishment of these vital infrastructure components.
This phase focuses on reinstalling the fully rehabilitated hurricane barrier gates to ensure their operational integrity and enhance Providence’s hurricane and coastal storm resilience. The reinstallation involves the placement of the refurbished gate structures, integration of repaired or replaced components and on-site functional testing.
The reinstallation for both the Allens Avenue Street and Manchester Street Power Station gates, including placement and final adjustments, is scheduled for the weeks of May 19 and May 26, 2025. Both gate systems are expected to be reinstalled and operational by late May, with site demobilization planned by mid-June.
To facilitate the reinstallation work, partial lane closures will be required on Allens Avenue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction (northbound and southbound) near the gates, Monday through Friday, from the week of May 12 through June 13. A temporary detour may be implemented on weekdays (Monday through Friday), as needed for safety or operational reasons, between May 27 and June 6.
Northbound traffic on Allens Avenue will be detoured to Blackstone Street, then to Eddy Street and back onto Allens Avenue. Southbound traffic will be detoured to Eddy Street, to Blackstone Street and back to Allens Avenue. Motorists should anticipate potential delays on these days and seek alternate routes.
Work at the Manchester Street Power Station will be confined to the property, with no anticipated impact on traffic.
In the event of an emergency requiring the gate to be closed during the reinstallation process, temporary hurricane barrier systems will be deployed on-site.
Updates and additional information will be shared through the City of Providence’s communication channels, including the 311 system.