The Pawtuxet Valley Railroad Bridge, also known as RI-DOT Bridge #679, and one of the last vestiges of it's long defunct namesake railroad finally knelt to the cranes and backhoes this month. Last used in the early 1980's as a Providence & Worcester spur off the adjacent Amtrak Northeast Corridor, the bridge has stood nearly twice as long as a disused rusting hulk and landmark over Interstate 95 in Cranston than it did as a functioning railroad bridge. Take one last look at the bridge before, during and after demolition, including a 24 hour timelapse of the nighttime demolition work in August. 0:00 Introduction 0:05 Pre Demolition (Mid July 2023) 2:50 Early Demoltion (Late July 2023) 3:24 Demolition Time Lapse (Early August 2023) 4:51 Late Demolition (Mid August 2023) 6:06 Bridge is Gone! (Late August 2023) 7:12 Outro 7:23 End Cards Thanks for Watching! FOLLOW ME for announcements, behind-the-scenes and more! twitter.com/marcberm instagram.com/marcberm facebook.com/marcbermvideo www.tiktok.com/@marcberm
Thanks for making the video, marcberm. It is too bad that the state elected to remove the bridge. I see that there could have been potential rail customers that might have used the line if the state had been more aggressive at promoting the line's re-establishment.
@@Mossy-Rock I talked with RIDOT and they told me that there were no reuses considered because there are already nearby automobile crossings with pedestrian sidewalks, rendering it redundant. To turn it into a linear park would have required more money and construction to carry the weight. In the end, demolition was the cheapest option, since the contractor also gets to recoup the value of the scrap steel. I'm not sure when the line officially beecame abandoned, but there is very little evidence left west of 95, beyond a short stretch between a block of backyards. Another nearby freight spur crossing Elmwoood Ave to the east of 95 was long thought abandoned since Ciba Geigy was decommissioned and torn down in the 80's. Suddently in 2016 it was reactivated by P&W for a current occupant of the industrial park (Safety Kleen) to transport out bulk waste oil. It was a little surreal to see a train cross Elmwood Ave for the first time in decades.
@@marcberm Thanks, Marcberm, for the response. It is a shame that RIDOT could not have seen the value in keeping the RoW intact, Sidewalks and driveways can easily be altered in the future, should an industry wish to resume rail service. I was encouraged to see that the P&W is active, once again, on the old Warwick Railway line to Safety Kleen. That is encouraging.
Having recently moved to Royal Mills in West Warwick, I have been trying to find-out more about the Pawtuxet Valley R.R., especially old maps of the section from the Warwick Mall area, to where it connected to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill (NH) line across from Royal Mills. Any suggestions for resources would be appreciated.
The Pawtuxet Valley Railroad Bridge, also known as RI-DOT Bridge #679, and one of the last vestiges of it's long defunct namesake railroad finally knelt to the cranes and backhoes this month.
Last used in the early 1980's as a Providence & Worcester spur off the adjacent Amtrak Northeast Corridor, the bridge has stood nearly twice as long as a disused rusting hulk and landmark over Interstate 95 in Cranston than it did as a functioning railroad bridge.
Take one last look at the bridge before, during and after demolition, including a 24 hour timelapse of the nighttime demolition work in August.
0:00 Introduction
0:05 Pre Demolition (Mid July 2023)
2:50 Early Demoltion (Late July 2023)
3:24 Demolition Time Lapse (Early August 2023)
4:51 Late Demolition (Mid August 2023)
6:06 Bridge is Gone! (Late August 2023)
7:12 Outro
7:23 End Cards
Thanks for Watching!
FOLLOW ME for announcements, behind-the-scenes and more!
twitter.com/marcberm
instagram.com/marcberm
facebook.com/marcbermvideo
www.tiktok.com/@marcberm
Thanks for making the video, marcberm.
It is too bad that the state elected to remove the bridge. I see that there could have been potential rail customers that might have used the line if the state had been more aggressive at promoting the line's re-establishment.
@@Mossy-Rock I talked with RIDOT and they told me that there were no reuses considered because there are already nearby automobile crossings with pedestrian sidewalks, rendering it redundant. To turn it into a linear park would have required more money and construction to carry the weight. In the end, demolition was the cheapest option, since the contractor also gets to recoup the value of the scrap steel. I'm not sure when the line officially beecame abandoned, but there is very little evidence left west of 95, beyond a short stretch between a block of backyards. Another nearby freight spur crossing Elmwoood Ave to the east of 95 was long thought abandoned since Ciba Geigy was decommissioned and torn down in the 80's. Suddently in 2016 it was reactivated by P&W for a current occupant of the industrial park (Safety Kleen) to transport out bulk waste oil. It was a little surreal to see a train cross Elmwood Ave for the first time in decades.
@@marcberm Thanks, Marcberm, for the response.
It is a shame that RIDOT could not have seen the value in keeping the RoW intact, Sidewalks and driveways can easily be altered in the future, should an industry wish to resume rail service.
I was encouraged to see that the P&W is active, once again, on the old Warwick Railway line to Safety Kleen. That is encouraging.
Having recently moved to Royal Mills in West Warwick, I have been trying to find-out more about the Pawtuxet Valley R.R., especially old maps of the section from the Warwick Mall area, to where it connected to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill (NH) line across from Royal Mills. Any suggestions for resources would be appreciated.