The state's replacement of the Providence Viaduct, which carries Route 95 past downtown, will damage a deeply buried Narragansett Indian village. The likely result: In exchange, 30 miles to the south, a major archaeological site will be preserved.
The state is required by federal law to protect the Providence site or compensate for the damage done when piles are driven through it to support the new viaduct. The state Department of Transportation plans to compensate by condemning and preserving 53 coastal acres in Narragansett that archaeologists say is one of the most important Native American finds on the East Coast.
The DOT already has an agreement that includes the Narragansett Indian tribe, the Federal Highway Administration and state historic preservation officials. The agreement includes provisions to permanently block development of the Narragansett site.