Revised $23 Million Plan Approved for Newport’s Cliff Walk Repairs
Rhode Island coastal regulators have approved a revised $23 million repair plan for Newport's Cliff Walk, which has been closed for over four years due to structural collapses. The revised plan addresses concerns about stabilizing private property adjacent to the…
Providence New Bedford, RI, October 16, 2026 —
Rhode Island coastal regulators have approved a revised $23 million repair plan for Newport’s Cliff Walk, a public path that has been closed for more than four years following structural collapses.
The revised plan addresses concerns about how to stabilize private property beside the path as part of the repair work. The plan could allow the Cliff Walk to reopen as early as 2028, though the summary does not specify a construction schedule or say that a reopening date has been set.
A disagreement remains over who will pay future maintenance costs for a private bridge involved in the repairs. The parties to that disagreement and the proposed division of costs were not provided. The available information also does not identify the regulators who approved the revised plan or give the date of the approval.
The approval marks a step toward addressing the damage that has kept the coastal path closed, but the maintenance dispute remains unresolved. No further details were provided about the repair work, the status of construction, or whether the plan requires additional approvals.
With the path closed for more than four years, the possible 2028 reopening is a key milestone in the revised plan. It remains a possibility rather than a confirmed date, and the information provided does not say when the bridge maintenance issue will be settled.
Story summarized from the original created by Nancy Lavin on rhodeislandcurrent.com, see more information here.
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