Part of Beavertail State Park Roadway to Close Permanently Monday

January 29, 2020 5:30 pm

By: Tim Studebaker

JAMESTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) – It’s a popular spot for sightseers and photographers, and for many people, a visit to Beavertail State Park starts with a cruise around the loop road that surrounds the lighthouse. Starting Monday, that part of the roadway will be closing permanently.

DEM’s Public Affairs Director Mike Healey says, “Unfortunately, we’re fighting a losing battle against sea level rise that is driven by climate change. We don’t know what the ‘x’ is, but in x years, that road’s not going to be there because the sea is going to take it away.”

Healey says storms over the decades have taken their toll.

Healey says, “It was Superstorm Sandy that really drove this home. There was so much erosion after Superstorm Sandy.”

He says they’ve tried to shore up the banks under the roadway in the past, but they continue to erode, making it unsafe for cars.

Healey says, “As a public agency spending public money to maintain properties for public use, we really cannot defend spending hundreds of thousands of dollars repaving that road and repairing that road.”

Even though the loop road around the lighthouse will close to vehicles starting Monday, the other roads and parking lots will remain open. Also, pedestrians will still be allowed to walk out to the lighthouse.

News of the closure has frequent visitors to the park saying they can understand why it’s happening.

Sandy Wakeman of Westerly says, “You know, you can see the evidence of erosion here now, down here at Beavertail, and it makes some sense.”

Donna Neville-DeAngelis of Jamestown says, “I applaud the decision. It will make it much safer here for pedestrians and the people who are enjoying this beautiful view, and it will preserve the structure.”