SOUND OFF: What Do You Think About the West Main Road Construction?
The state of Rhode Island is installing new sidewalks and curbing on West Main Road. What do you think about this project?
Have you seen the orange cones along West Main Road?
The state of Rhode Island recently began a major project along West Main Road, a state roadway.
The state is installing new sidewalks and curbning along the main road. The road will eventually be paved, too.
We want to know what you think about this project. We asked this question on Portsmouth Patch's Facebook page:
What do you think about the road work being done on West Main Road? The state is installing new sidewalks and will eventually pave this main road.
Here's what a few residents had to say:
Chris Pierce Farley: It is about time!
Michelle Perrotto Sullivan: Wish they would put sidewalks on East Main Road!!!
Claire Alba Arrico: Also hope the wheel chairs can get by the telephone poles because the sidewalks they have now that they did a few years ago you can not get by them.
Geoff Wilson: I find it poor form that the State DOT gives no notice other than to put up a sign that says expect delays. Great communication of plans to those who live/may be affected.
Chris Redfern Carceller: West Main is terrible, so this is terrific news. I hope that they will also install sidewalks on East Main someday too so that people don't have to walk in snow or in the road like Leslie said above. Very dangerous for those trying to get to a bus (they also have to cross the road without the use of crosswalks).
What do you think about this project? Do you agree with the comments above? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
Portsmouth Citizen
7:52 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
This is exactly what government is supposed to do... build infrastructure that all Rhode Islanders pay for so that all Rhode Islanders benefit from it. There is no logical argument for tolls on the Sakonnet Bridge unless you also think there should be tolls on West Main Road. Not that I want to give the state any ideas...
Helen Daley
7:54 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
I think this is rediculous and a waste of good money. West main is in horrible shape and that is what they should using this money for..REPAVING the street.
Amelia Medeiros
9:00 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I agree with Helen, West Main Rd needs repaving badly so they do curbing instead. I guess I just don't understand the logic! Hopefully the paving is coming soon??
TAMORI
10:32 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Did you not read the entire article? It says: "The road will eventually be paved, too." If all the sidewalk/curb work is required and being done...I'd think all that has to be completed BEFORE the paving.
Sunny Shores
8:40 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
It would be WONDERFUL if they put the utilities underground while everything is dug up. I'm sure no-one thought that far ahead.....
mark Katzman
9:45 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Sunny - Please note the fact that they will not be putting utilities underground has little to do with a lack of forethought; Underground utilities would cost many, many more millions of dollars!
mike
10:14 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Putting utilities underground is a monster undertaking very very expensive
Robert E
1:29 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
NY put their utilities underground that is why they still don't have power. Underground utilities have a tendincy to flood and make it more difficult to do repairs.
julie barrett
9:52 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
After they put sidewalks up will they also come back after they've plowed the main roads to clear the sidewalks as a lot of West Main Road there are no property owners or houses to clear them. So again the people walking will be in the streets.
KENNETH SCIGULINSKY
11:48 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
They are doing the wrong "Main" road --- it should be East Main road. We need sidewalks in the Quaker Hill area!
mark Katzman
12:08 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
I believe that people are under the wrong impression about "side walks." There is no indication that the DOT is putting in sidewalks. What they are likely doing is putting in Curb Stones which are absent in many locations making for very unclear points of access in and out of public ways/driveways. I would be shocked if sidewalks are being put in an any but a selected few limited locations. (For example, look at the tiny length of "side walk" they put in front of the former Gleason's package store.
Mark D
2:57 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
I agree I would be shocked if they were putting sidewalks the entire distance. I have been driving by and the embankments would require quite a bit of work. There is also no real reason for sidewalks here. I think it is just curbing and then paving. Another reason I don't believe they are doing sidewalks is temperature. Concrete requires a minimum ambiant temperature I believe that is 50F. You wouldn't start a project in the fall that would require temperatures above 50F.
J. Lane McMahon
10:47 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Mark D
It actually depends on the mix of concrete and what, if any, curing additives are put in. The job type also allows for this, meaning, is it structural or not. There is nothing wrong with pouring concrete this time of year.
JP
5:15 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
If they are to put sidewalks in on west main road it is a LONG overdue GREAT idea. It needs them very badly and the paving of the road even more so. If they are paving they may as well spend the money and do the sidewalks at the same time. People are talking about east main road instead but west main has been far worse for the longest time!! One thing at a time. East main should come right after west main though that's for sure!! Finally!
Tim
8:49 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Hey.... I would be happy if someone....somehow.....would enforce the speed limit on East Main Road..... especially on Quaker Hill !!!
Keith Hamilton
10:33 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
The work being done on West Main Road is part of a repaving project. The repaving will take place in the Spring from Locust to Hedley. I will check on the sidewalks but I don't think they were included on the original scope(maybe from Locust to Mill). Other projects in the near future are sidewalks on Sprague Street and sidewalk replacement from Clements North to Boyd's Lane. These projects are part of the TIPS program run through the State. These monies will no longer be available for such projects on Portsmouth if the current toll legislation goes through. Please make sure you are sending letters to the Governor's Office expressing your displeasure with the toll plan.
Patriot
11:55 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Thank you, Keith, for the information. Regretfully, we have learned that the DOT does not give a hoot about providing any information or updates to our community (see "the escape bridge.") Also, I agree with the sentiments expressed regarding the Quaker Hill area. As you know, the community has long worked on a long term yet unfunded project for that area - The Town Center Project - to address that issues in that area regarding speed, safety, surface water management and aesthetics. Congratulations on your recent re-election. I hope you will support efforts to seek state and federal funding for the Town Center.
Dan Force
8:42 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Keith,
Just wondering if the town has any input into how some of this work is done. For example…the new sidewalks along Turnpike are great. But, with the installation of the residential mailboxes right on the sidewalk, the sidewalk is barely wide enough to get around them. In other communities I’ve lived in, on similar streets with the boxes right on the sidewalk, the mailboxes are turned sideways, parallel to the street/sidewalk. The door is set facing the oncoming traffic so the letter carrier can still access it. Can the town request that the new mailboxes be installed that way on Sprague and East Main?
Dan
Keith Hamilton
10:29 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Dan,
I understand what you are saying. We can absolutely request that of the DOT.
Thank you for the feedback.
Keith
Keith Hamilton
10:34 pm on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Patriot,
Engineers surveyed the Town Center area this past Summer. The round -a - bouts are a long way off. The estimated cost is over $15 million. We will continue to work proactively with RIDOT to get the project progressing. The safety on East Main Road needs to be addressed.
Keith