Crook Point Bridge Still Structurally Sound After Fire: RIDOT

PROVIDENCE, RI — The fire that broke out on the Crook Point Bridge in Providence late last month caused no significant to the structure, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation said Thursday.

The fire broke out on the bridge the evening of June 29. After the flames were extinguished, the department conducted both a hands-on and aerial inspection of the bridge, and found no significant damage to the stability of the structure. As a result, the channel on the Seekonk River below is safe for boaters, the department said.

During the inspection, crews removed about 60 pieces of burned or loose timber damaged by the fire, RIDOT said.

The fire called into question the future of the historic bridge, which is set to be transferred to the City of Providence. Had the structure been determined to be unsound, the transfer could not have gone through, RIDOT said in the wake of the fire.

Related: Providence Unveils Plan To Revitalize Crook Point Bridge

Following the inspection, the department can go forward with the transfer, which is scheduled to happen by the end of the summer for a fee of $1.

Even before the fire, the structure of the bridge has been a concern, RIDOT said, and it is inspected every two years.

"The safety of this bridge has been an ongoing concern to RIDOT," the department said. "There is fencing around it, but people continue to circumvent the safety barriers and access the bridge."

The bridge has been a part of the city for more than a century. Built in 1908, it originally carried trains on the New Haven Railroad. In 1976, it was fixed in the upright position when train service stopped, and was acquired by RIDOT in 1981.

The video below from Ian Servin, used with permission, shows the flames on the bridge the night of June 29.