The 111-year-old Crook Point Bascule Bridge has stood in an upright and locked position over the Seekonk River since it was abandoned more than four decades ago. But quietly last year, the state Department of Transportation for the first time included plans for its demolition in a long-term list of state transportation projects.

The demise of Providence's most recognizable derelict railroad bridge may finally be approaching — albeit several years in the future — and with it the beginning of a movement to try to save the structure.

The 111-year-old Crook Point Bascule Bridge has stood in an upright and locked position over the Seekonk River since it was abandoned more than four decades ago. But quietly last year, the state Department of Transportation for the first time included plans for its demolition in a long-term list of state transportation projects. The bridge's date with the wrecking ball: 2026-2027, according to the DOT's Transportation Improvement Plan.

But the longer the bridge has thrust awkwardly into the sky between Providence and East Providence, and the more decrepit it's become, the more distressing the idea of losing it seems to many in the area.

The bridge's dark silhouette has been screenprinted on popular T-shirts, its symbolism of urban decay studied at Brown University and its rusted metal tagged by graffiti artists.

Hearing the state DOT was formulating demolition plans, first reported by WPRI, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is now offering to have the city take ownership of the bridge to preserve it.

“The historic Crook Point Bridge is a landmark and one that the City would like to see preserved," Elorza spokeswoman Emily Crowell wrote in an email Tuesday. "We are engaging with RIDOT in hope that they would consider transferring the bridge to the City in the future."

Opened in 1908, the drawbridge was abandoned in 1976 and fixed upright to allow boats to pass while avoiding the expense of tearing it down.

(function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src='https://embed.playbuzz.com/sdk.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,'script','playbuzz-sdk'));

The DOT estimates it will cost $6 million — half in 2026 and half in 2027 — to remove the drawbridge.

Why spend the money to tear it down now after all these years?

"We were asked by public safety in Providence and East Providence to resolve the safety issues with people trespassing and climbing the bridge by securing the bridge," DOT spokesman Charles St. Martin said. "They also asked that we remove it."

The bridge's superstructure is in bad shape and would probably have to be rebuilt to be used again.

It's unclear whether the state demolition plan would remove the bridge's masonry foundations from the river.

When the state moved Route 195 in Providence in the "IWay" project, the DOT left the bridge footings so they could be used to support the new Providence River pedestrian bridge, which is set to open Aug. 9.

Also unclear is whether the state has any plans for the abandoned East Side rail tunnel that once led trains from downtown to the bridge and served as a key link to East Providence, the East Bay and Southcoast Massachusetts.

In the past, transit advocates have supported keeping the bridge around in case demand for another Seekonk River crossing returns.

Is there a case to keep the bridge even if it isn't used?

"Based on its age, it is potentially eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places," Brent Runyon, executive director of the Providence Preservation Society, wrote in an email. "In my opinion, as an object, it has a great deal of cultural and artistic significance to the community."