The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced temporary closures of a small portion of two streets in Newport for improvements to the Newport Secondary rail line that runs between America's Cup Avenue and the Point neighborhood.
Between Friday, June 14 and the end of July, RIDOT will temporarily close Elm Street or Poplar Street where they meet America's Cup Avenue. During construction, one of the two will remain open at all times for detouring traffic. The work will take about one week at each rail crossing. Specific lane closure information will be posted at www.ridot.net/traveladvisories.
Because of the rail line's proximity to a main sewer line, the work will be limited to the east track (closest to America's Cup Avenue), which will be replaced with new rail and ties. Motorists and nearby residents may see construction equipment mobilizing and work happening off the road at the site prior to June 14.
The repair work is part of a $629,000 project to perform routine maintenance to ensure a safe track structure and improved riding surface for vehicles across the Newport Secondary railroad at all four crossings on Aquidneck Island. RIDOT last year completed work at the other two crossings, at Admiral Kalfbus Road in Newport and Stringham Road in Portsmouth. These improvements are not part of proposed improvements under the Pell Bridge Ramps Project.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
This railroad repair project was made possible by RhodeWorks, RIDOT's ongoing commitment to repair structurally deficient bridges and bring Rhode Island's transportation infrastructure into a state of good repair, promote economic development, and create jobs. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks .