VP Biden coming to R.I.

VICE PRESIDENT Joe Biden will visit Rhode Island sometime during the next few weeks to talk about the state's infrastructure. / COURTESY TWITTER
VICE PRESIDENT Joe Biden will visit Rhode Island sometime during the next few weeks to talk about the state's infrastructure. / COURTESY TWITTER

(Updated 3:21 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo on Thursday announced Vice President Joe Biden will visit the Ocean State on May 27 to see how the state is progressing with its infrastructure project: RhodeWorks.
While more details will be forthcoming, Raimondo says she plans to show Biden bridges and roads under repair.
The visit materialized when Raimondo met with Biden earlier this year when she visited the nation’s capital for the annual National Governors Association meeting. The governor said she explained RhodeWorks to the vice president and was surprised when Biden told her that he already knew all about it.
“States need to find the money to invest in infrastructure and it’s not easy and there aren’t a lot of options. You can either raise taxes or use tolls,” Raimondo said. “I think the reason he’s coming is to say this is an example of a state that made tough choices, but the good news is that they’ve now got money to rebuild.”
Raimondo, joined by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and R.I. Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., made the announcement during a tour of the Pleasant Valley Parkway Bridge rehabilitation project. The bridge, projected to be complete in December, is seven months ahead of schedule and on budget. The state is spending $8.9 million to replace the Pleasant Valley Parkway Bridge with a contingency of $100,000. It has been structurally deficient since 2009 and has had a weight limit of 25 tons since 2011, according to RIDOT.
In order to reduce congestion in the area, the bridge will be widened by 33 feet to 64 feet and also will include dedicated bicycle lanes
“In order to attract businesses, we need safe and reliable infrastructure for our residents, commuters and visitors to travel on,” said Elorza. “This project is a perfect example of the work being done to support a more prosperous future for our capital city and throughout the state.”
RhodeWorks is a 10-year, $4.7 billion infrastructure project. Subsidizing the project is a new highway toll that once built will assess a fee on some commercial trucks.

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  1. Joe is going be giving out business cards with his address on them so you can send him your toll bills when you get them. There are talks about him assuming and paying back the 38 Studios bonds for us, but nothing is final on that yet, so keep paying those bond holders in the mean time!