The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) recently broke ground on the $9 million Aquidneck Avenue project in Middletown.
The project will rebuild approximately one mile from East Main Road to Green End Avenue. Approximately 16,100 vehicles daily travel on this stretch.
Work includes reconstruction of the road base, installation of bike lanes, installation of new sidewalks along the western side of the road, and pedestrian crossing features at the entrance to J.H. Gaudet Middle School.
A water main also will be installed in coordination with the Newport Water Department. Newport and Middletown plan to contribute up to $267,000 each for the main.
Construction is scheduled to begin soon and be completed in autumn 2023.
“Like many of our roads, Aquidneck Avenue was not properly maintained over decades, leading to the poor conditions we see today,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. said.
Aquidneck Avenue is part of the state’s plan to resurface deteriorated roads. Existing funds combined with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding will be used to fix sections of 17 corridors statewide with poor quality pavement.
The project is also part of RhodeWorks, RIDOT’s ongoing commitment to improving transportation infrastructure and repairing structurally deficient bridges.
State and local leaders attended the groundbreaking.