Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that the next repair project for road damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is scheduled to begin this weekend on Block Island.
Through a $3.1 million contract with Northern Construction Service, RIDOT will repair approximately 1,800 feet of Corn Neck Road between Old Harbor and Beach Road. The road was severely undermined because of high surf generated by the hurricane. The repair work, set to begin tomorrow, Saturday, November 17, 2012, also includes a storm-damaged section of Spring Street south of Old Harbor.
A portion of the project's costs will be funded by the Federal government, including $3 million of quick release emergency relief funds provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation on October 30.
"The restoration of our roads and other infrastructure following Hurricane Sandy remains a high priority," Governor Lincoln D. Chafee said. "We are pleased to remain on the fast-track in getting these repairs started and completed in as short a time frame as possible."
RIDOT's goal is to complete as much work on storm-damaged State roads as possible before winter. On November 3, RIDOT began repairs to the seawall and sidewalk on Ocean Road in Narragansett. Three other repair projects for Ocean Drive in Newport, Poppasquash Road in Bristol and Conanicus Avenue in Jamestown are set to begin in the next two weeks and conclude by early next year.
"We are pleased by the dedication and cooperation shown by our contractors on these projects to get repairs started and completed quickly," RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. "We all recognize the inconvenience the storm damage has caused and the importance of restoration before winter sets in."
-30-
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362, Ext. 4007