During construction of the Apponaug Circulator project in Warwick, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has been phasing in the new traffic patterns. Motorists are about to encounter another change on Wednesday, August 24 as RIDOT is scheduled to remove a traffic signal and open a new roundabout at the intersection of Route 117 (Centerville Road), Route 115 (Toll Gate Road) and Gilbane Street.
While the new roundabout will be open to traffic, components will remain under construction. The roundabout will not be in its final configuration until RIDOT completes other components of the Circulator project – including the new Veterans Memorial Drive Extension. When that work is finalized in early Fall, two-way traffic will be established on the Circulator project.
All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.
RIDOT has been incorporating roundabouts into its intersection improvement projects where possible. In these intersections, traffic flows one way around a center island, with those entering the circle yielding to traffic already in the roundabout. There are no traffic signals.
Roundabouts have proven to reduce fatalities by 90 percent, and greatly reduce injuries and the severity of crashes. With their lower speeds, these intersections are safer for pedestrians, cyclists, older drivers and novice drivers. Roundabouts are also less expensive to operate in the long term as compared with conventional intersections since they do not have the maintenance or electricity costs associated with signalized intersections – an average savings of about $5,000 per year, per intersection. More information on roundabouts, including tips on using roundabouts, is available at www.dot.ri.gov/roundabouts.
The $71 million Apponaug Circulator project is on budget and about one month ahead of schedule. It involves the construction of an entirely new traffic pattern for one of the busiest travel corridors in Warwick, with the reconstruction of 2.3 miles of roadway and installation of five roundabouts throughout the village. The project is transforming a congested and outdated urban circulator system into a more efficient, safer, accessible and sustainable facility. The new Veterans Memorial Drive Extension will serve as a bypass for the nearly 25,000 vehicles who travel through the heart of this historic village each day. Reducing traffic volumes through the village is a key component in the City's revitalization plans for Apponaug, which envision a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment as a destination for its shops, restaurants, and cultural events. Learn more at www.dot.ri.gov/apponaug.
Contact: Charles St. Martin (401) 222-1362, Ext. 4007