The Highway to Nowhere

In the late 1960s, about 120 acres of Rumney Marsh were filled with millions of cubic yards of soil to prepare for a northward extension of Interstate 95. The project was cancelled in the early 1970s, but the massive embankment was left behind.

That embankment still cuts through the marsh today. It blocks natural tidal flow, fragments habitat, and leaves hundreds of acres of wetlands “tidally restricted,” meaning they no longer receive the full saltwater flushing they need to stay healthy.

Restoration projects are now looking at ways to breach or partially remove this barrier to bring back tidal flow, improve water quality, and strengthen the marsh’s ability to protect surrounding neighborhoods from flooding.

Swipe through the maps below to see how much of the marsh was filled for a highway that was never built.

Our goal is to share this history so the community understands what is at stake — and why restoring tidal flow is one of the most powerful things we can do for Rumney Marsh’s future.