Motorists driving on Route 117 (Main Street and Washington Street) in the eastern portion of Coventry in the next several weeks can expect travel delays as the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) begins a contract to repair three sections of roadway that were damaged during the historic flooding in March.
Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 30, 2010 and last until mid October. RIDOT is following an aggressive schedule that will involve daytime and nighttime work; however, to minimize the impact during the morning and afternoon rush hours, there will be no lane closures or restrictions from 6-9 a.m. and from 3-7 p.m. Specific lane restrictions will be announced each Friday for the following week and will be posted online at: www.tmc.dot.ri.gov/traveladvisories.
The work will entail a total reconstruction of Route 117 in some areas, and motorists can expect to encounter gravel roadways during the project. At times, there will be a single-lane alternating traffic pattern. Sidewalks will also be under construction. The affected areas of Route 117 include:
• Ken Ray Drive to Route 116 (Knotty Oak Road) – Approximately two-thirds of a mile.
• From 200 feet west of Laurel Avenue to Fairview Avenue – Approximately 800 feet.
• Area of Contentment Drive (Coventry Housing Authority) – Approximately 450 feet.
The cost of this repair contract with D’Ambra Construction is $1.1 million. This is one of the more complex flood repair projects that RIDOT has initiated this year. The Department has more than 50 flood repair contracts completed, underway or about to go to construction soon at a cost of $11.9 million. Another seven contracts worth about $5.5 million remain and will go to construction this fall and next spring. In total, more than 500 road and bridge sections were identified as damaged by flood waters and targeted for repair.
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362 x4007