The Fox Point barrier would provide virtually con^jlate 

 protection against hurricane tidal flooding for the major portion 

 of the City of Providence. The barriers woiild protect the 

 doimtown area where 35 percent of the total experienced damage in the Bay 

 has occurred. This barrier would have no adverse effects on 

 tidal action and could be designed and constructed in a rela- 

 tively short period of time. With the long period of time 

 reqiiired to resolve the problems, prepaire the dssien, sTic. construct the 

 Lower Bay barrier, the relatively short period required to put 

 the Fox Point barrier in operation and the urgent need for 

 protection in downtown Providence, the Fox Point barrier should 

 be constructed first. Installation of the two barrier units vfould 

 provide a very high degree of protection against hurricane 

 flooding and leave only isolated locations subject to wave damage. 

 Studies are underway to determine what measures can be provided 

 for these locations and will be the subject of another report. 



78. COSTS .AND BENEFITS 



The combined plan would prevent da-nages amounting to 

 ^proximately $203,000,000 in a design flood 2 to 3 feet higher 

 than the record flood of 1938. The first unit to be constructed. 

 Fox Point barrier costing -^16,500,000, woiild prevent $73,000,000 

 of this damage. 



Average annual benefits are: 



Combined plan 

 Fox Point 

 Lower Bay 



$6,000,000 

 !|J1,733,000 

 $li, 267,000 



Annual costs are: 



Combined plan 

 Fox Point 

 Lower Bay 



Lower limit 



$3,312,000 to 

 $ 732,000 

 i)2, 580,000 to 



Upper lir.j.t 



^n,899,0O0 

 $ 732,000 

 4?i4,l67,0O0 



Benefit-cost ratios are: 



Lower limit 



Upper limit 



Combined plan 

 Fox Point 

 Lower Bay 



1.81 to 1.0 

 2.37 to 1.0 

 1.65 to 1.0 



1.22 to 1.0 

 2.37 to 1.0 

 1.02 to 1.0 



71 



