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Print this pageA Reef from Ruins
The old Jamestown bridge finds new life underwater.
It’s been three years
since the demolition of the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge, when explosive charges crumbled the historic landmark in-to hundreds of tons of concrete debris to be recycled or used for building artificial reefs. Now located just a few short miles offshore of Gooseberry Island in Newport, the reefs are some of the first in New England, providing an early example of an alternative use for concrete waste.
As part of a research team for RI DEM and URI conducting ongoing studies to track how this new environment changes over time, I’ve witnessed the artificial
reefs teeming with new life this summer. The previously barren stretch of seafloor now sprouts forests of rebar and huge
concrete blocks, and a variety of marine life has taken up residence, including anemones, sea stars, mussels and sponges. There are also signs of commercial species settling in — lobster, cod, blackfish — a great sign for the long-term objective to attract those species back to our area.
It goes to show that the old bridge continues to serve the Ocean State, just as it has for more than half a century. Find more information at oceanopportunity.com.—MIchael Lombardi
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Reader Comments:
Such a cool sight to see underwater. Better there than in the landfill.