Press Release: East Providence kicks off roadway and sidewalk improvement program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 13, 2023

CONTACT INFO. :                                             

Office of the Mayor                                       

Patricia Resende                                                                                 

(401) 529-3207                                                                                                          

presende@eastprovidenceri.gov             

East Providence kicks off roadway and sidewalk improvement program

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — The City of East Providence has kicked off its roadway and sidewalk improvement program with major support from the State of Rhode Island.

The City received a $675,858 grant/match of 33 percent in state funds toward the project which consists of roadways, drainage, sidewalk and other public improvements. The funds were made available to the city after the city and state entered into an agreement through the Municipal Road and Bridge Program.

The Municipal Road Fund Program is administered by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). The program was created by Governor Dan McKee and enacted by the General Assembly in the 2024 Appropriation Act with a funding of $20 million from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program.

The program provides funding to municipalities for the construction and maintenance of roads, sidewalks, and bridges.

Through a bidding process, which began in May of 2023, the city has entered into a $2.4 million contract with Pawtucket Hot Mix Asphalt to complete a number of roadway, drainage, sidewalk and other public improvements in the city. The East Providence City Council adopted the resolution to enter into the contract with Pawtucket Hot Mix Asphalt in August 2023 and an agreement was signed with the state in early September 2023.

“We are thankful to the Rhode Island General Assembly and Governor Dan McKee for making these funds available to be used for our city’s roads and sidewalks,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “There has been a concerted effort between our city’s Public Works and Planning Departments and our engineering division to apply for these matching funds – doing so eliminates the burden of cost to our property taxpayers. We always want the most and best for our residents.”

Work is slated to begin next week (third week of October).