RIDOT and its 40-plus-year string of broken promises

Posted 2/7/19

To the editor:

In 1975 at the Portsmouth Middle School, the R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) unveiled plans to rehab East Main Road in Portsmouth. 

Surveying began and then …

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RIDOT and its 40-plus-year string of broken promises

Posted

To the editor:

In 1975 at the Portsmouth Middle School, the R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) unveiled plans to rehab East Main Road in Portsmouth. 

Surveying began and then nothing happened until Gov. Almond’s administration raided the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority coffers to resurface the road and paper over the structural problems. I invite the reader to drive north on East Main Road, from the Middletown (line) to Turnpike Avenue. You cannot make this stuff up. 

Ten years ago, a Mr. Smith from RIDOT told the Town of Portsmouth that Sen. Reed’s office had procured $1 million for engineering for the Town Center improvements (that portion of East Main Road known as Quaker Hill). Construction would begin in two years. Somewhere in this period the State Police barracks was closed and the State Police stopped patrolling East Main Road. ( I guess the poor condition of the highway was too tough on their cars.)

Last week we read that various bike path construction was kicked down the road, a euphemism for “it’s dead.”

This week we learn that Connell Highway is now the on the list. I guess we will really know when the “ON TIME, ON BUDGET” signs go up so that the completion date can be changed to fit RIDOT’s publicity needs. (How can a project be proclaimed “ON TIME, ON BUDGET” before it starts?)

Perhaps this latest round is payback for Portsmouth residents’ revolt regarding tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge. In that RIDOT-inspired backroom deal, RIDOT slipped the measure through the legislature at the last minute with no local hearings. This hoped for fiat accompli caused one legislator to proclaim, “It’s a done deal.” Not so fast. Will Connell Highway be upgraded? It has needed it for years. I like to see promises made 40-plus years ago kept first.

Philip T. Driscoll

169 Immokolee Drive

Portsmouth

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