Roundabout Construction Begins

By Cynthia Drummond for BRVCA
June 27th 2023

RICHMOND – With students at Richmond Elementary School now on summer break, construction of the long-anticipated -  and debated - roundabout has begun. Crews from Cardi Corp. are preparing the site, at the intersection of Routes 138 and 112.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation first proposed the project in 2019. The traffic-calming measure, which will slow vehicles to about 25 miles per hour, is used in many other cities and towns. The roundabout will include sidewalks and cross walks for pedestrians.

RIDOT also plans to modify Richmond Townhouse Road between Routes 138 and 112, changing the two-way road to a one-way, eastbound direction.

Town Administrator Karen Pinch said the work, at least so far, has not impacted traffic at the busy intersection.

“As of now, there don’t seem to be any impediments to travel through the intersection,” she said. “From what I’ve seen, traffic is flowing without delay.”

There has been some complaining on social media from residents who dislike roundabouts and don’t believe one is necessary in their town, but Police Chief Elwood Johnson said something needed to be done to improve safety at the most dangerous intersection in town, which, over the past decade, has been the scene of more than 100 accidents.

With school out for the summer, Johnson said this is the perfect time to start the project.

“The timing is good, because school just ended, so that corridor isn’t going to be as problematic,” he said.

Police details will be posted at the site as needed.

“There will be some delays, but we’ll try to keep them to a minimum,” Johnson said.

The project will cost $6.5 million and is expected to be completed by April, 2025. A new water line, a town project funded by a $292,660 grant from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, is being built at the same time.

Construction will be paused during the Washington County Fair, from Aug. 16 to Aug. 20.