Public rights-of-way in Barrington are becoming easier to locate.

The town's department of public works recently began installing large granite markers at public rights-of-way that have been selected by the harbor commission. 

A DPW crew installed the first four markers on Wednesday morning, Oct. 17 — they are located at Bay Spring Avenue, Belvedere Avenue, Water Way, and Woodward Avenue. 

The harbor commission has been working on the public rights-of-way project for months. The initial work was focused on identifying the rights-of-way in town — the group built a list of 21 access points. 

Some of the rights-of-way are pretty well-known, such as the one at the end of Water Way, which leads from the street to Barrington Beach. 

Others were lesser known. In fact, some of the department of public works employees who helped install the granite posts were surprised by the marker at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Bowden Avenue. They had initially believed the right-of-way was located one street away.

Barrington Harbormaster Ray Sousa helped with the work, and said harbor commission member James Forster played a key role in the project.

The granite markers are each 7 feet in length, although only five feet of granite is visible once the markers are buried. Each stone carries the vertical message "Public Right of Way."

The town paid for the new markers — they purchased a total of 35 markers for $18,825. The expenditure included $12,000 from the town's "parks and trails reserve account."

"This really enhances public access to the water," said Mr. Sousa. 

Which street made the list?

Following is the list of roads where public rights-of-way markers are being installed:

Allen Avenue

Bay Spring Avenue

Shore Drive

Woodbine Avenue

Belvedere Avenue

Third Street

Willow Way

Appian Way

Central Avenue

Annawamscutt Road

Clarke Road

Water Way

Bluff Road

Watson Avenue

Ferncliff Road

Woodward Avenue

Samoset Avenue

Opechee Drive

Juniper Street

Wamsutta Avenue

King Philip Avenue