BURRILLVILLE – Improvements to state roadways in town in need of repaving have been added to the State Transportation Improvement Plan, but will not see any work until 2031, according to a letter to Town Council President Donald Fox from Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti.
The letter, sent in response to numerous requests from the Town Council urging the state agency to take action on Victory Highway and Church Street, states that the latest planned start date for the two roads – postponed numerous times – is unavoidable.
“Nearly all the pavement projects in the 10-year plan have been adjusted due to the state’s need to provide proper funding resources for
bringing our bridges to a safe state of good repair,” noted Alviti.
The roads, which have long been in need of a full resurfacing, have often led to pleas from drivers for action, with complaints to town officials and on social media. In 2024, one resident even created a petition asking RIDOT to prioritize the roadway, which was signed by 151 people.
“This has been an ongoing issue where this Town Council has written numerous letters to RIDOT on behalf of our residents in town – those who not only live on Church Street and Victory Highway but those of us who travel on them regularly,” said Fox at a council meeting this week. “It is worth noting that the state is once again telling us: they’ve got other problems with bridges, they don’t really care and they’re going to be pushing out the projects to 2031. That’s their estimate before we will see any work done on Church Street or Victory Highway.”
The letter signed by Alviti notes that RIDOT maintenance crews “completed improvements on Church Street last summer,” pointing to one of many times the agency has patched, but not resurfaced, that roadway.
“The council and administration has done all we can,” Fox said. “We are at the whim of RIDOT. We’re in the far corner of the state.”
On Wednesday, the council president read one portion of the letter aloud.
“We at RIDOT understand the importance of Victory Highway to the town of Burrillville, but due to its relatively low Average Daily Traffic when assessed in accordance with RIDOT’s Asset Management Plan metrics and ranked against other state projects, there are other vital improvement projects that have been programmed ahead of this project.”
Councilor David Houle noted that the traffic numbers are only low because people are avoiding the street.
“One of the things that’s concerning is the fact that that’s a major route to Zambarano State Hospital,” said Councilor Stephen Rawson. “You’d think they’d be a little conscious of that. This is totally ridiculous.”
Fox said he wouldn’t be surprised if the town receives another letter in a few years that delays the projects further.
Town Manager Michael Wood suggested councilors should invite the RIDOT director and the governor’s office to visit town for a ride, noting he did so once with a past agency director.
“I actually put him on a bus and we drove him all over the roads,” Wood said. “We shook the guy out, but it made a difference. He actually did something.”
“I know you’ve made every effort here and I’ve been involved in this for years too,” said Wood. “I think we should make a formal invitation.”
Councilors voted unanimously to send a letter inviting RIDOT and the governor’s office for a visit.
“It will take us nine months to get a reply to that,” Fox said.
The post RIDOT: Victory Highway, Church Street in Burrillville set for improvements in 2031 first appeared on NRI NOW.
