Before Demolition of Sakonnet River Bridge, A Check for Endangered Turtles

The state Department of Transportation today announced that it’s checking for endangered turtles and sturgeon in the Sakonnet River before the old Sakonnet River Bridge is demolished.

The study was mandated by the National Marine Fisheries Service and has caused a delay in the demolition of the old bridge, which was replaced by a new bridge in 2012.

The DOT said in a statement that the study will determine if there are endangered or threatened species living in the area and “what, if any, mitigation efforts will be required prior to demolition,” according to a release.

“Our goal is always to ensure that we minimize any impacts our construction activities may have on the community and the environment,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. said.

The study was requested by NMFS as part of the environmental impact study created for the construction of the new bridge.

Species of particular concern include Green Sea Turtle, the Leatherback Sea Turtle and the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, which are all endangered; the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, which is threatened; and the Atlantic Sturgeon.

The DOT said it has already incorporated mitigation measures into its planning documents and “in addition to the sea life, animals such as falcons and bats must also be taken into consideration. Debris shielding, monitoring, time of year restrictions, fish startle systems, bubble curtains and silt curtains are all being evaluated as possible remedies.

The actual demolition plans were essentially complete aside from the environmental studies.

Portsmouth and Tiverton Rep. John G. Edwards said that though “apparently [the demolition] is not happening as quickly as we all had hoped,” there is an end in sight.

“This process can take anywhere from 6 to 9 months,” Edwards said. “This also has to be completed and accepted before we can submit the permit applications for the demo.”

The project should be advertised by early summer 2016.