Aquidneck Avenue road project complete. Here's what was done

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. and Middletown Town Administrator Shawn Brown Tuesday joined with state and local leaders to mark the completion of a project to reconstruct a portion of Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown, one of the town’s busiest commercial corridors. This construction season, RIDOT completed work on an $8.9 million project to rebuild the badly deteriorated road base and make numerous other safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Work on Aquidneck Avenue was one of the first projects RIDOT undertook utilizing funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as part of a five-year, $500 million investment in pavement projects throughout Rhode Island.

“Aquidneck Avenue serves as a critical connector for Middletown’s vibrant business community and J.H. Gaudet Middle School,” said Congressman Gabe Amo in a statement. “I’m glad to see the completion of this project supported by federal and local investments to help Aquidneck Island implement critical safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, creating a safer and more accessible environment for all road users.”

“Aquidneck Avenue is a perfect example of our commitment to address important roads for our communities that have not been properly maintained for decades,” Alviti said in a statement. “Today we have a solidly rebuilt roadway that will serve the businesses on this road and residents and visitors who frequent them for many years to come.”

“Investments from the federal, state and local levels have contributed to bringing these much-needed improvements not only to the roadway, but also the watermain underneath, as well as critical safety features that will serve our students, motorists, and local residents for many years to come,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Louis P. DiPalma said in a statement. "Much credit goes to former Middletown Town Councilor M. Theresa Santos, who passed last year. She persevered to get this project underway for many, many years.”

Approximately 16,100 vehicles per day use this section of Aquidneck Avenue.