The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has begun reconstructing Hartford Avenue in Johnston as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Road improvements to the area between I-295 and Atwood Avenue mean that a developer’s plans to rebuild the area will also move forward.
The .65 miles of roadway will see a reconstruction that will include removal of the concrete road base, new curbing and sidewalks, and a widening of the road to provide a fifth center turning lane west of Shaw’s supermarket. There will also be new water, gas and sewer lines installed as well as a new drainage system, the installation of fiber optics and a new traffic signal system. The Pocasset River Sluiceway will also be widened.
“This $3.4 million project will vastly improve this main thoroughfare in Johnston,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis. “ARRA projects such as this one are providing more jobs and improving more miles of roadway than could have ever been done with just the regular federal funds.”
“I am very happy the DOT is using the stimulus dollars to improve a major thoroughfare through our town,” said Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena. “This will expedite the development of the Stuarts Plaza, which has been vacant for 18 years.”
The first phase of development by the Saletin Real Estate Group is expected to include a 63,000 square foot retail anchor, two restaurants, a free standing bank branch and a 100 room hotel. Saletin Group has been working on redevelopment plans for this location for over two years.
“The DOT’s plans to widen the road, add traffic signals, and make other improvements have motivated our tenants and development team to meet the DOT’s new schedule,” said Jeffrey Saletin, President of the Saletin Real Estate Group. “This, combined with help and leadership from Mayor Polisena and the Town Council of Johnston, has gotten this $20,000,000 development moving forward.”
“Without the Stimulus funds and the cooperation of the DOT, this project would not have become a reality. I want to personally thank the DOT Director and the men and women of the Department for making this project a reality,” said Mayor Polisena.
RIDOT’s reconstruction of Hartford Avenue is expected to be completed in Fall 2010.
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Contact: Dana Alexander Nolfe 401-222-1362 x4450