PORTSMOUTH — The U.S. Navy plans to close Burma Road Wednesday morning, Sept. 12, for paving work that will last about a month.
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PORTSMOUTH — The U.S. Navy plans to close Burma Road Wednesday morning, Sept. 12, for paving work that will last about a month.
Also known as Defense Highway, the road runs north to south along the island’s west shoreline.
“It’s from Green Lane, north all the way to Stringham Road,” Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. told the Town Council Monday. “This is overstating the obvious, but it will produce more traffic on West Main Road during the morning and afternoon rush hours.”
Naval Station Newport had originally planned to close the road on Monday of this week, but later delayed it to 9 a.m. on Sept. 12, “due to an issue with a piece of construction equipment.”
The work is expected to continue through Oct. 12 and both lanes will be closed. Boaters who need to use the Weaver Cove boat launch will still have access to that facility via Stringham Road, according to the Navy. Extra signs will be posted around the impacted intersections, the Navy said.
Ride will go on
News of the road closure initially prompted concerns that it would impact the sixth annual 4 Bridges Ride, a 26-mile charity bike ride sponsored by the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) that’s scheduled for this Sunday, Sept. 16. Burma Road is part of the event’s route.
But cyclists will be pleased to know that not only will the ride go on as planned Sunday, they’ll have Burma Road all to themselves.
Matt Gray of Gray Matter Marketing, one of the promoters for the event, said there will be no changes to the route.
“We’re already spoken to folks at the Navy,” he said Tuesday. “It really won’t affect us. The road will be closed off to normal traffic, but they’ve allowed us access.”
Mr. Gray said he called the Navy after seeing a newspaper report about the impending closure last week.
“I spoke with a woman who had ridden in the 4 Bridges Ride three times,” he said. The news took the Navy representative by surprise, he said, but she looked into the matter and called him back.
The 4 Bridges Ride allows cyclists an opportunity to cross the Verrazzano, Pell, Sakonnet and Mt. Hope bridges. It begins in North Kingstown at 7 a.m. and finishes on the campus of Roger Williams University in Bristol.
“It’s usually done by 10:30 a.m.,” Mr Gray said.
All net proceeds from rider registration and sponsorships from this year's event will be donated to Save The Bay, according to RITBA.