Construction on the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, located 750 feet upstream from Fox Point, where the Providence River flows into the Narragansett Bay, began in 1960 and was completed in 1966. The area, historically significant for its maritime activity, provides access to the Atlantic Ocean. The design of the barrier is strictly functionalist and contains no noteworthy architectural features. As mandated by the federal government, all materials were new and unused. The structure is accessible through the adjacent property on the west bank of the river, and since construction has been occupied by an electric company. Additionally, all materials and end products were manufactured in the United States.

The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier serves two central functions - (1) to retard high tides from potential storm surges in Narragansett Bay and (2) to maintain river flow such that water levels do not get too high behind the barrier. Although it is a fairly simply concept, the 3,000-foot long structure consists of several complex components.

River Gates

The barrier's three openings, through which only small boats and the river water may pass, are located as close to the east bank of the Providence River as possible. The concrete structures supporting the gates consists of a base mat 61.5 feet wide by 148 feet long by 8 feet thick. The two center piers extending from the top of the base mat at elevation -15 feet, mean sea level will rise to a maximum elevation of +35 feet, mean sea level, and will be 8 feet thick. Similar end piers are 6 feet thick The structure is supported on a steel bearing pile, driven to the bedrock.

The sill elevation of the gates is -15 feet, mean sea level. The tainter gates are 40 feet square, weigh 53 tons, and curve outward toward the Bay to break the impact of the waves. The curvature of the gate has a radius of 35 feet, measured from the inside of the trunnion to the inside face of the skin plate perpendicularly to the axis of the crust. The length of the skin plate measures 42 feet, 7 1/4 inches along the arc. The component parts of the gates are as follows: the skin plate and tee supports, the main girders and struts, trunnion and anchorage assembly. The connections were made by shop and field welding. Embedded in each pier and