Officials mark finish of naval station’s waterfront project

December 14, 2015 2:59 pm

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) _ Coast Guard officials are marking the completion of major upgrades to the waterfront at Naval Station Newport.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Adm. Linda Fagan, who commands the Coast Guard’s First District, and other officials gathered at the site Monday for a ribbon cutting.

Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, secured more than $30 million in federal funds for the Coast Guard and Navy to upgrade the waterfront area and construct a new building to support Coast Guard Buoy tenders in Newport.

The project also included building a parking area and storm water management system, demolishing another building, installing new mooring hardware, paving, dredging and extending a wall.

Reed says the improvements are critical for the Coast Guard personnel who defend the nation’s coastline and for other agencies using the station.