The Blue Lane

Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA 02744

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The Blue Lane is a cohesive designation for the city’s waterfront path from the CoveWalk and HarborWalk along the South End peninsula to the planned RiverWalk on the banks of the Acushnet River in the North End. Spanning the shoreline of the city as a signal to residents and tourists of a contiguous set of recreational pathways that allows travel along the entire New Bedford waterfront, connecting the attractions not only to local neighborhoods, but also to one another. The improvements along the waterfront allow visitors to New Bedford’s spectacular water views as never before.

HARBORWALK

Opened in 2015, the HarborWalk is 3,880 feet long and tops New Bedford’s hurricane barrier on the east side of the city’s southern peninsula connects with a bike path that runs along the waterfront to the tip of the peninsula and into historic, 50-acre waterfront Fort Taber Park. The HarborWalk gives visitors a chance to look out upon where Buzzards Bay (East Beach) meets historic Fort Taber, beyond to Fairhaven’s Fort Phoenix, West Island, and noted points of interest like Butler Flats Lighthouse. The pathway is lit at night, making any time a good time to take in the natural wonder of South Coast, MA. The HarborWalk is also pet friendly.

COVEWALK

Opened in early 2017, the 5,550-foot CoveWalk sits atop the hurricane barrier on the western side of the peninsula, overlooking Clark’s Cove. The pathway is lit at night, making any time a good time to take in the natural wonder of South Coast, MA. The CoveWalk is also pet friendly.

RIVERWALK

Coming soon! The planned RiverWalk will be a 17,000-foot recreational waterfront path on the upper harbor, along the western bank of the Acushnet River north of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge.

History of the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier

In 1962, construction of the hurricane barrier across New Bedford Harbor began in an effort to greatly minimize the destructive effects of flood waters associated with severe storms.  Dedicated in 1966, the hurricane barrier remains the largest manmade structure on the east coast of the United States and provides security for industries, the fishing fleet, and hundreds of homes in residential neighborhoods.  The Harbor Barrier and Dike have protected New Bedford and the neighboring communities of Acushnet and Fairhaven from storm surge but, the dike portion of the structure—a massive 18 foot high, 4,600 foot stone wall—has limited public access to the water.