Council approves latest list of East Providence road repairs

Substantial work will take place this summer

By Mike Rego
Posted 5/4/16

EAST PROVIDENCE — The City Council at its meeting Tuesday night, May 3, approved the road repair schedule for the upcoming season submitted by Steve Coutu, East Providence's Director of Public …

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Council approves latest list of East Providence road repairs

Substantial work will take place this summer

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The City Council at its meeting Tuesday night, May 3, approved the road repair schedule for the upcoming season submitted by Steve Coutu, East Providence's Director of Public Works.

"People are always questioning if their road is going to be paved," Mr. Coutu said in his introductory remarks. "A lot of the work has to do with the water main work we're currently doing. A lot of the roads to be repaired are included in those contracts."

Mr. Coutu's submission included the following list of roadways to be paved upon the completion of water main improvement project: Walmer Avenue (section of); Dover Avenue (Walmer to Kent); Kent Avenue (Dover to Pawtucket Avenue); Brightridge Avenue (Pawtucket Avenue to Brown Street); Bliss Street; Juniper Street (S. Broadway to Lyon Ave); Greenwood Ave (Don to Hoyt); Bishop Ave (Newman to Ferris).

The following list of streets are carryovers from last year’s program. These streets will be paved upon the completion of National Grid gas main work: Sherman Street (Bullocks to Halleck); Stanton (325’ section near Sherman); Brown Street (Vincent to Brookhaven); Cooper Street; Dourado Lane; Grape Street; Barry Street; Waverly Road; Roseland Court.

"The streets will be paved when the water and gas main work is done, so it's going to be a busy summer," Mr. Coutu added.

And the following list of roadways is proposed to be added to the current paving contract with Pawtucket Hot-Mix Asphalt: Birch Street; Morris Lane; Mountain Ave; Goldsmith Ave (section of); Ormond Ave; Monmouth Drive.

Mr. Coutu continued, "It's not a lot of streets but hopefully we can put a dent in some of the potholes we have in some of these roads."

When asked by Ward 2 Councilman Helder Cunha what the city could do to have National Grid repair streets more efficiently, Mr. Coutu said he has broached the utility with the idea of possible having it pay for the fixes and have the Public Works department actually do the work. He used Mountain Avenue as an example of this possibility.

At-Large Councilwoman Tracy Capobianco inquired about the timeline for repairs to Dover Avenue and other streets in Kent Heights near the water facility project. Mr. Coutu said late summer was the expected time for those roads to be repaved.

In addition, both councilors engaged Mr. Coutu in a discussion about the status of Pawtucket Avenue. The director noted it is a state road and beholden to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

About the long line dug into the length of road, Mr. Coutu said, "We've discussed this with National Grid and DOT. They will be back to restore the trench, but unfortunately it will still be a trench." The director said he expected work to be concluded on Pawtucket Avenue in early summer.

The busy thoroughfare is often a topic of concern. The city's entire General Assembly recently signed on to a letter requesting Pawtucket Avenue be included in DOT's "RhodeWorks" plan. Mr. Coutu said he and City Manager Richard Kirby both plan to attend public hearings on the proposal. However, it is unlikely at the moment to be included.

"We've made the request," Mr. Coutu said. "But DOT has basically said all of the money is going towards bridges, not roadways."

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