The state of disrepair on Nanaquaket Road has now become a liability to the state and town, and a hazard for recreational cyclists. You can still see the blood stains on the pavement.

It’s only a matter of time before someone decides to sue the town and state for negligence. Over the past year, the road has seen multiple accidents involving cyclists due to the state of the road. Cracks in the pavement are now wide enough to trap the tire of a human-powered bicycle and lodge it in place, resulting in cyclists being thrown from their bikes. In at least two cases, a cyclist sustained significant injuries requiring both ambulances and police.

In the past five years, there has been minimal effort put forth by the RIDOT to maintain Nanaquaket Road, which is a state road. The patch work repair job from two years ago has already deteriorated.  As the state is now finally focusing on re-paving Main Road and Highland Road, one can only hope that it won’t be long before Nanaquaket Road gets some attention. 

Until then, motorists and cyclists alike, should be wary of the poor condition of the road.

Hank Alexandre
Tiverton