RIDOT, Lawmakers Work Towards East Bay Bike Path Solution

WARREN, RI — East Bay lawmakers met with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to discuss solutions for two closed bridges on the bike path.

One senator and 10 representatives met with the department Friday "to update them on the progress being made to find a permanent, safe solution for the bike path," RIDOT said.

Several lawmakers recently introduced a bill to allocat $20 million to the department to repair and reopen two former railroad bridges on the East Bay Bike Path, which were closed in 2019 due to structural deficiencies.

Initially, the department estimated the project would cost $10 million, now estimated to be $25 million. RIDOT Director Peter Alviti supported an "enhanced detour" as a permanent alternative to reopening them, the lawmakers said.

At the meeting Friday, RIDOT told the lawmakers that construction has begun on a "safe, temporary bike path that will give riders a way to enjoy the path without dismounting." The temporary solution is set to be completed by the end of the year. At the same time, the department said it is working with designers to find a cost-effective solution to replace the bridges, which as "severely deteriorated."

"The question for RIDOT is how to get bridges across the rivers at the original estimated cost of $10 million," the department said. "RIDOT Director Peter Alviti explained that reducing the cost of the utility crossings is key to cost reduction."