Elm Street Pier Newport, RI

Project Lead and Engineer of Record: Stephanie Robat, P.E.

Client: City of Newport​

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The Elm Street Pier, also known as Point Pier, is a fixed timber-framed pier in Newport, Rhode Island, that experienced heavy damage due to storms in the Winter of 2023/2024. FR Engineering Group was the lead engineer for the temporary repairs and replacement of the pier. 

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Temporary repairs allowed the pier to be used for passive recreational purposes until the final replacement could be completed. These repairs involved removing 123 linear feet of the existing pier, constructing additional pile bents to temporarily reinforce the pier’s substructure, and installing extra handrails on the pier.

 

The replacement of the pier involved demolishing the remaining portions of the pier and reconstructing it with a drilled timber pile foundation, timber superstructure, handrails, floating docks, and a gangway. Major upgrades to the pier included raising it 2 feet above the current deck level to accommodate future sea level rise and adding an ADA-accessible gangway so everyone is able to enjoy the pier.

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Just as planned, the new pier opened just in time for the summer season in early July 2025!

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FREG provided conceptual design services, which included concept-level plans with estimated costs for final repair/replacement options, final design plans for the repair/replacement, administrative services, permitting services, and assistance with bidding and contractor selection for the final repair/replacement.