To the editor:

While traveling to and from my home, I use SR-103 (Child St) to get to downtown Warren and back. For the past three years, the condition of the roadway has deteriorated more and more. Each year, RIDOT tosses 2-3 shovels of filler in the worst spots which, given the condition of the road, makes things even worse in some places. The section that is by far the worst is along the Kickemuit Reservoir but there are many places between Metacom and Long Lane that demand attention.

It is now long past time for the State to step up and address this issue. Replies such as “we are planning on redoing that section in 2055”, or, “it’s winter, we can’t do anything until it warms up” are NOT adequate replies and something needs to happen immediately to repair the worst spots.
Clearly nothing was done last summer when it was “warmer”. On a daily basis I see vehicles leave the entire lane of travel and drive in the bike lanes to avoid the worst sections, and this is unacceptable. It is time for Warren residents to make calls and write letters of complaint to RIDOT demanding we be treated better. If the State owns it, the State must fix it. Surely there’s some State or Federal guidelines for public roadway conditions. Does anyone reading this think Market Street between SR-136 and Jamiel’s Park is acceptable?

Please help me resolve these dangerous road conditions. Contact RIDOT at 401-222-2450 or info@ridot.net and demand Warren be treated better.

Tim White
Firefighter, Warren Fire Department, E-6
EMT, Secretary, Warren Rescue Squad
1 Stonegate Rd.