East Bay Bike Path

right|thumb|400px|The East Bay Bike Path in July 2009, facing south near the southern terminus of the bike path in Bristol.

The East Bay Bike Path is a paved rail trail in Rhode Island.

It stretches from Providence to Bristol along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay, passing through the city of East Providence as well as the townships of Barrington and Warren.

It is part of the East Coast Greenway and provides access to Colt State Park. It is used annually by 1.1 million people.

History

The plan for what would become Rhode Island's first major bike path path was approved in April 1983 by Governor Edward DiPrete. It was built from 1987 to 1992, following the abandoned rail bed of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad. The property was acquired and constructed in four phases:

1. Riverside Square to Barrington County Road ()
2. County Road, Barrington to Franklin Street, Warren ()
3. Franklin Street, Warren to Independence Park, Bristol ()
4. Riverside Square to India Point Park, Providence ()

The completed path was dedicated on May 31, 1992, by Governor Bruce Sundlun.An 8.5 mile on-road, via bike lane, was completed in 2011, linking the East Bay Bike Path with the south tip of the Blackstone River Bikeway, a trail, which will link Providence with Worcester, Massachusetts. Rhode Island's next project will be connecting the east bay bike path with theWashington Secondary Rail Trail.

See also

• Blackstone River Bikeway
• Washington Secondary Rail Trail
• Greenways Alliance of...... ...
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