BY VINAYA SAKSENA

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced its plans for road work during this construction season, which it kicked off with its annual Construction Season Opener press conference at the Washington Bridge, and revealed that its to-do list includes major Blackstone Valley roadways.

Frank Corrao, Deputy Chief Engineer for the department’s construction operations, revealed that a Route 295 overpass in Cumberland, known as the Scott Road Overpass, would be among the roads to be worked on by the department during this construction season, as would state roadways in Central Falls, Cumberland, Burrillville, Glocester, Lincoln, Pawtucket, Smithfield, North Smithfield, Woonsocket and North Providence. The construction season typically runs from April 18 until December 15 according to RIDOT, though some projects that are not weather-sensitive can run after that date.
One project Corrao revealed details of at Tuesday’s press conference was a plan to put a new riding surface on the Scott Road Overpass over Route 295. He said RIDOT would be replacing the current surface with a “friction course” surface, intended to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
“The friction course is made of a popcorn (shaped) material,” Corrao explained. “It’s a more porous substance that keeps water away from the tires. It increases the amount of traction on the roadways.”
Additionally, RIDOT revealed plans to install a cable guardrail along Route 146, which would run from the Route 146A split in North Smithfield to the Massachusetts border. Corrao also mentioned a plan to replace pavement striping on state roads in the Blackstone Valley area. Both projects were expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to information provided by RIDOT.
No announcements were made regarding the troubled bridge over the Pawtucket River, known by RIDOT as Bridge 550. Corrao said the replacement of the bridge was a priority for RIDOT, but that he did not have extensive details on the project, which he said was currently in the design phase.
“We’re working with the (city) council right now to come up with alternate ways to expedite the design and construction of the bridge,” Corrao said. “The one thing I don’t have would be a timetable for that.”
However, Corrao maintained that the aging bridge currently in place was safe, as long as people followed the safety precautions put in place by the department. He added that the Rhode Island State Police had been monitoring the bridge to make sure that the 22-ton weight limit was being adhered to.
Corrao and RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis noted at Tuesday’s press conference that much work on state roads was done during nighttime hours, and thus often went unnoticed and perhaps under-appreciated. They indicated that the department planned to continue having work performed at night as much as possible to make it less of an inconvenience to motorists. Corrao also offered some parting advice to motorists who might encounter road workers in their travels.
“Stay alert, drive safely and reduce your speed in our work zones.”