It’s not hard to find bad roads in Rhode Island, or any other state where winter settles. No local community is immune, though like too many other fiscal matters, the bumps, depressions and potholes seem a little worse here.
The good news, however, is that the state and some local communities are finally taking responsibility after years of neglect.
The state, along with Providence, Warwick, Cranston and Pawtucket all have active road-improvement projects and more are planned.
Warwick Mayor Joseph J. Solomon acknowledges in this week’s cover story that last year was the first time in 20 years his city implemented a proactive road-repair program.
“We’re going back to ground zero [budgeting] … so this will not pile up on us again,” he said.
Providence has posted plans for large-scale repaving online, and a $70 million bond request for roadwork and other improvements is before the City Council.
And the state is in the midst of a 10-year plan to improve roads and bridges, which have annually ranked among the nation’s worst.
But how did the roads get so bad?
Overreliance on federal money appears to have been one contributor. Poor asphalt quality and too-thin pavement have also been culprits on many municipal roads, according to local research.
In 1987, the state tried to institute a standardized pavement-management system for local roads. It dissolved after a few years once state money ran out.
Perhaps a fresh look at an old idea can help local communities ensure bad roads don’t become a permanent part of the Rhode Island experience.
