Cliff Walk Commission: Posted Closure Timing a 'Coincidence'

The timing of Friday's announcement that the south-end of Cliff Walk was closed, is unrelated to the recent controversy around a proposal to fix the walk, said Bob Power, Chair of the Cliff Walk Commission.

The announcement stated the walk is shut down from Ruggles Avenue to the end of the walk at Bailey’s Beach, citing damage from Tropical Storm Sandy.

"[The webmaster] just hadn't gotten around to it," said Power.

A proposal submitted by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to repair the damages has been met with strong opposition by local surfers.  In order for the contractor to access the work site, temporary causeways would be constructed, said Charles St. Martin, a DOT spokesman.   One of the concerns is those causeways might destroy a popular surf break.  

A petition to reject a proposal to repair the Cliff Walk caused Tropical Storm Sandy has reached nearly 6,000 supporters as of Saturday morning.

DOT officials said the impact to the break is still undetermined. 

“It’s a complicated issue the way the waves break there,” said Robert Smith, Deputy Chief Engineer for the Department of Transportation on Friday. “We don’t want to make any assumptions. We want to talk to experts on this.”

The DOT is waiting on a permit from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), which ended a public hearing process on Friday.  St. Martin said they hope to complete the project by the end of the year. 

The Cliff Walk remains open from Memorial Avenue to Ruggles Avenue. 

Related Stories:

• Local Surfers Share Pictures of Ruggles
• Save The Break: Clean Ocean Access Position on Cliff Walk Repairs