The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council approved the repair plans Tuesday. Mayor Charlie Holder said the decision is one of several required steps, but a significant one. The city still needs to obtain other permits before construction can proceed.

The damaged stretch, between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street, gave way in 2022. It remains fenced off, and visitors are routed around it through Salve Regina University’s campus. More than a million people visit the Cliff Walk annually, according to Cassandra Earle of Discover Newport, who said visitor activity has remained strong despite the closure.

The project is expected to cost about $23 million. Newport’s public works department secured $11 million in federal funding last summer, with the remainder to come from other sources, according to the city.

City officials have been coordinating with private property owners as part of a public-private partnership. A bridge crossing the path had been a point of contention: Newport needed the council to confirm the bridge would be considered part of the Cliff Walk and included in maintenance plans. Holder said the city must ensure the public easement remains safe and secure.

Holder expects construction to take about two years, with completion targeted for 2029. The repair would restore a section of a heavily used coastal trail that has remained inaccessible for four years.