The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the Town of Warren today celebrated the opening of the Warren Bike Path, a new 1-mile bikeway in the eastern portion of town. The ceremony took place on the path at Warren Recreation Park on Asylum Road.
RIDOT provided $1.2 million for design and construction of the path, which extends from the Kickemuit River to Long Lane, close to the Massachusetts border. The path follows the abandoned Warren-Fall River Railroad spur, along which the town has long-range plans to extend the path further east toward the East Bay Bike Path.
The new path provides a major recreation asset to the town, as well as an alternative transportation corridor for non-motorized travel. It provides direct connections to Kickemuit Middle School, Hugh Cole Elementary School, and Warren Recreation Park.
The construction of the path was a partnership between RIDOT and the Town of Warren, and U.S. Senator Jack Reed was instrumental in securing funding for this project.
“Rhode Island has an impressive network of bike paths, now totaling 55 miles in length,” RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. “The Warren Bike Path is a welcome addition to our system of off-road, paved paths for recreational use or for biking to work or school.”
This is the second bike path in Warren, which is one of five communities that the 14-mile East Bay Bike Path runs through.
“Warren’s citizens have worked for a long time toward this bike path,” noted Warren Town Council President David Frerichs. “We hope that everyone takes the opportunity to explore this beautiful area of Warren.”
The path adds to the State’s growing network of bike paths. Other major paths in Rhode Island include:
• East Bay Bike Path: Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Providence and Warren. • Blackstone River Bikeway: Cumberland, Lincoln, North Smithfield and Woonsocket. • Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway: Johnston and Providence. • Quonset Bike Path: North Kingstown. • Ten Mile River Bikeway: East Providence and Pawtucket. • Washington Secondary Bike Path: Coventry, Cranston, Warwick and West Warwick. • William C. O’Neill Bike Path (South County Bike Path): South Kingstown.
Contact: Charles St. Martin (401) 222-1362 x. 4007