RIDOT Predicts September Completion for Tiogue Ave. Construction
The $3.4 million project has turned much of the town's shopping district into a traffic headache.
According to RIDOT Chief of Information and Public Relations Charles St. Martin, the resurfacing project on Rt. 3 will likely continue into September, although the worst is said to be almost over.
"This is the worst part right now because we're right in the meat of it," said St. Martin. "We have to dig the payment all the way down before we can start building it back up."
St. Martin acknowledged that the recent wet weather only exacerbated the situation.
"We got those heavy rains the day after we dug the road up and as soon as they came, the water had no place to go and washed out."
By the end of this week (depending on weather), the majority of the first road layer - a base asphalt driving surface will be in place, although there may still be some raised manhole and utility covers that drivers should be cautious of.
"From CVS to South Main Street, the base of the road was very poor from a number of areas settling and utility cuts that had been made over the years," he explained. "It required much more aggressive resurfacing to help restore the road. If we didn't do that, it wouldn't hold up and would fall apart again."
Repaving efforts began around 8 p.m. on Sunday night and are scheduled through about 7 a.m. Monday. Work to grate the gravel surface before paving will have to be done during the day. The intersections at South Main St., Sandy Bottom and Arnold roads will be cold planed and resurfaced as well.
Another 900 ft. section of roadway, from the Sandy Bottom Rd./Tiogue Ave. intersection to just before the Pawtuxet River bridge may be worked on in late June (the schedule is yet to be determined).
"The base of that section is also in need of repair that a simple resurfacing won't fix," said St. Martin. "A lot of sewer work that has been done recently and other work done over the years has led to the failing base of the road."
St. Martin, a Coventry resident himself, is aware that the work is troublesome to many drivers but insists that it must be done.
"We apologize for the inconvenience that we're causing people but we're trying to get through the worst part of it as soon as we can."
Jim
10:32 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
SEPTEMBER!!!!! If they plan to finish on Tuesday, after Labor Day that would be 86 days or 2064 hours from today. In any other state a job of that size would take about 2-3 weeks, tops! Of course about 4 months from then an underground pipe will burst and it will be torn up and then some utility will dig up a section etc.and the beat goes on! Well at least there will be economic stimulus due to increased sales of shocks, struts, tires.... Only in RI!
Joe
10:32 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
Hearing the history of CT roads circa 1980's, and the aggressive appoarch to redoing the roads, one has to wonder why RIDOT hasn't done most of the work ( sans the paving) at night. From an engineering students stand point: shut down Tiogue ave from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am, divert traffic onto Hopkins hill road either I-95, division road, or ( if the town gets around to connecting the road) Center of New England Blvd, and routing traffic down Arnold Rd. By doing most of the work at night, the length of time required can be reduced while placing minimal inconvenience on traffic
Jim
5:17 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
Joe provides a very valid point. If they can, and they are, repaving Rt. 95 which was completely redone just about 15 years ago, why not the busiest state road in town. To do this to local businesses who struggle to compete against big-box stores and others on Rt. 2 this manner of road work is unjust and irresponsible. But of course the entire state road system is a total mess and embarrasement. Just drive into our neighboring states even NH where roads endure harsh winters and freeze/thaw conditions and our roads pale by comparison. Perhaps it would be too much to ask of our elected officials but I would really like to see them voice a collective displeasure to the RIDOT and urge an expedited plan of action. To ignore this outrage may come back to bite them come election day but in the meantime the citizen/taxpayers have to grin and bear it, which should not be the case.
Dale B.
12:44 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
How come there are 15 DOT people standing there watching 1 poor guy digging a 10 foot deep hole by himself, then call him up out of the hole to go get coffee for everybody standing there, then send him back into the hole. Also, Mr. Police Cheif, why are policemen on traffic directing detail yapping away on cell phones?