The Rhode Island Department of Transportation was in town last month to discuss future improvements to Nayatt Road.

Officials said the Nayatt Road repaving project was scheduled to be advertised this winter and construction was slated to begin next spring. Until then, motorists will need to continue to navigate the pothole-plagued surface.

"As a life-long resident of Barrington who lives off Nayatt Road I am concerned about the safety and security of this road way," said Matthew Amaral, who attended the DOT meeting. "I travel on Nayatt Road several times a day and find myself needing to take a defensive driving course to more accurately manage driving during high traffic times."

The DOT project would reportedly include repaving the entire length of the Nayatt — from Rumstick Road at the eastern end to Washington Road. Officials said some sections of Nayatt will receive a complete re-do, including a new gravel base; crews will grind down other sections and new asphalt will be put down. 

Crosswalks along Nayatt will be rebuilt with ADA access; drains will be cleaned; tree work will take place along the roadway; existing sidewalks will be rebuilt with concrete, but initial plans do not call for additional sidewalks to be built. Also, the plan does not call for Nayatt to be widened.

Some local officials were interested in seeing the sidewalks extended farther west along Nayatt, possibly to the intersection with Broadview Drive. One Barrington town department head requested that utility poles located along Nayatt Road be moved 1 to 2 feet farther away from the roadway. In the past, there have been some serious car accidents on Nayatt Road.

An administrator from the Barrington Department of Public Works said some of the problems with the Nayatt Road surface can be traced back to a water main project, where crews dug up the roadway and then repaved a strip of the asphalt once the work was completed. 

He said it would be worthwhile to check on the condition of the water main while the road's surface is removed, rather than having to dig up the main again after the new surface is put down. 

An official also said there is a tree that juts into the roadway at 284 Nayatt that should be removed.

DOT officials said any additional work that is not initially in the plan could result in a delayed start to the project and cost increases. 

Mr. Amaral said it was important for residents to share their concerns and requests regarding the Nayatt Road project with the state Department of Transportation. Mr. Amaral has been communicating with DOT officials about Nayatt Road since early 2014.

"It is important your voice is heard and that the RI DOT understands why this project should stay on plan for 2018," he said. "As a community let's make Nayatt Road a priority of the RI DOT. Please share your concerns and express your immediate need for safety of Nayatt Road."

To send an email to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, write to dot.customerservice@dot.ri.gov