I've noticed in that past few weeks that some massive crain ships, Bokalift 1 and 2, have sometimes loitered in Narragansett Bay.

I wonder if that's related to this.

Probably not. It seems to have come as a surprise. They are not loitering - either the wave conditions did not allow for installation or they are in port for resupply.

Washington bridge rebuild maybe? The demolition of the piles is all that's left.