Warwick Apponaug Circulator receives $10M U.S. DOT grant

THANKS TO A $10 MILLION federal grant, the state now has financing in place to build a new road system around and in Apponaug Village in Warwick. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
THANKS TO A $10 MILLION federal grant, the state now has financing in place to build a new road system around and in Apponaug Village in Warwick. / COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WARWICK – Rhode Island has secured a $10 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to rebuild the road system around Apponaug Village in Warwick, the state’s congressional delegation announced Thursday.

The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant will help Rhode Island replace the current system of one-way roads through the Apponaug business district with a large two-way bypass highway and four roundabouts.

Estimated to cost $33.5 million, the R.I. Department of Transportation project is intended to free Apponaug from high-speed through traffic, encouraging foot traffic and business investment in the village.

“This is a smart investment that will help create jobs, improve the efficiency of traffic, and increase safety for motorists and pedestrians,” said R.I. Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee in a news release announcing the grant. “This project will also help the city of Warwick move forward with key economic revitalization efforts.”

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Chafee, a Warwick resident and former mayor, supported the Apponaug project over Providence’s application for $39 million under the same program to build a streetcar line through the city.

With the Tiger grant, the federal government has now committed $26.8 million toward the Apponaug project with the state responsible for the remaining $6.7 million.

Bidding is scheduled to begin on the project this fall and construction could begin next spring.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Looks and sounds good….but I hope they put out some information on how to travel through roundabouts! Many here seem to have no clue what the traffic rules are for these. But almost anything would be better than the way it is now.