DOT will discuss bike path bridge detour tonight

Barrington and Warren town councils hosting meeting with DOT

Posted 5/6/21

The Barrington and Warren Town Councils will hold a joint meeting with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation tonight, Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m., to discuss the proposed detour plan for the …

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DOT will discuss bike path bridge detour tonight

Barrington and Warren town councils hosting meeting with DOT

Posted

The Barrington and Warren Town Councils will hold a joint meeting with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation tonight, Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m., to discuss the proposed detour plan for the East Bay Bike Path bridges. The meeting is open to the public.

DOT officials will be presenting their ideas on an enhanced detour to improve safety. A link to the meeting can be found on the town’s website.

Barrington officials and residents across the region have been pleading with the DOT to replace the cloded bike path bridges, but the state has a different plan.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation had created a new detour plan, which includes widening the sidewalk area on the Barrington and Warren river bridges (Route 114 vehicle bridges), making New Meadow Road one-way toward the southern end of the road, and placing temporary barriers between passing cars and people using the bike path.

Barrington officials say the plan will negatively impact the community and will not do enough to keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe.

The DOT closed the two East Bay Bike Path bridges in 2019, and initially said the project would be put out to bid in the spring of 2021. The state also dedicated between $10 million and $15 million, but more recently officials said the price had increased to $25 million. 

During a recent radio interview, DOT Director Peter Alviti said the state was now considering alternatives. 

“…we don’t want to waste $25 million on something we may not want to do,” he said during the earlier interview. “We’re looking into all the alternatives, which include rebuilding the bridges, but also include other designs we may be able to employ to reduce the cost of those. It’s going to take some time. We can’t risk people being hurt.

“We are working actively on finding a solution.”

The link for the council meeting can be found here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89900340496

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