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4/16/2026
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House, Senate OK bills to save Crook Point Bridge
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 STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly today advanced legislation to help the city of Providence save the Crook Point Bascule Bridge, the rusted railroad drawbridge that has become an iconic city feature, standing upright over the Seekonk River since its abandonment 50 years ago.
Both the House and the Senate today gave initial approval to matching bills (2026-H 7218, 2026-S 3176) sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Kislak and Sen. Samuel D. Zurier to create the Crook Point Bridge Authority, an independent corporate authority to acquire, develop and maintain the bridge.
The move, backed by the city, is intended to prevent the demolition of the structure planned by the state Department of Transportation, which currently owns it but is willing to transfer it to the city.
The drawbridge was built in 1908 to bring freight and passenger trains from Providence to East Providence while also enabling the continued use of the Seekonk River by vessels. It has stood in its upright position since being taken out of service in 1976.
Preservationists and Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley say the bridge is too much a part of the city’s fabric to be demolished and are calling for public preservation and possible adaptive reuse of the bridge and the surrounding area. A 2021 proposal generated through a design competition envisioned part of the bridge being converted to a public pier disconnected from the 125-foot upright part, which would be illuminated with multicolor LEDs. The plan was never funded, and the span remains on the Providence Preservation Society’s Most Endangered Places list.
“The Crook Point Bridge is a beloved landmark in Providence. It encapsulates our identity: historic, post-industrial and proudly, delightfully weird. Its image has been put on T-shirts. It deserves to live on, ideally in a way that increases public access and enjoyment of it,” said Representative Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence).
Said Senator Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence), “The Crook Point Bridge has become a part of the city’s and the state’s heritage. I look forward to seeing how the new authority investigates and fashions the best use for this iconic structure.”
The Crook Point Bridge Authority established through the legislation would serve as the legal entity that would take ownership of the bridge. Its three members would be appointed by Providence’s mayor with consent of the City Council, and its meetings and records would be open to the public. The legislation empowers the authority to raise and receive funds to maintain and redevelop the property.
Representative Kislak’s bill was approved by the House today, while Senator Zurier’s passed the Senate. Each bill now goes to the other chamber, where it must be approved before it can be sent to the governor.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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