EAST PROVIDENCE — Reconstruction of several city roads has just about wrapped up for the year, according to Director of Public Works Steve Coutu.
The project, which began in earnest in early August, was a joint effort between the city’s Highway Department and the Cardi Corporation. Cardi’s bid was best of the six who answered the Request For Proposals from the city in July.
“Everything is good. It went well,” Mr. Coutu said this week. “We’re essentially done. We’re just about finished on Crescent View Ave. and we finished Forbes Street last week. Everything else is done for the season.”
The city entered into the project with access to some $2.5 million in various forms of funding to make the necessary fixes.
Among the first streets to be tackled was Grove Avenue, where City Hall and the Weaver Library are located. It was refurbished through a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Several roadways as well were resurfaced through a City Bond Fund. Approximately $1.1 million was to be used for the following projects: Frederick Street; Thatcher Street; Nelson Street; Lyon Avenue (Fort to Orchard); Freeborn Avenue (N. Carpenter to Potter); Richfield Avenue (Clyde to end); Rice Avenue (Richfield to Townhouse); Townhouse (Rice to Richfield); Cumberland Road; Waterview Avenue (Pawtucket to Upland Road); Burnside Avenue (Willett to Griffith); Rhodes Avenue; and Glenrose Avenue. Cardi’s winning bid for these streets was $970,954.75.
The city also made use of money to the tune of $1.2 million from the State Road and Bridge Revolving Loan Fund championed by local lawmakers on Smith Hill and passed by the General Assembly last year. The projects to be undertaken with those dollars were as follows: North Broadway (Roger Williams to Greenwood Avenues); Forbes Street; Commercial Way; and Crescent View Avenue. Cardi Corporation’s bid for this work was $1,083,305.50.
The Crescent View and Forbes projects took a bit longer than expected, according to Mr. Coutu, because of unexpected extra work needed for them to be properly reconstructed.
“Everything went well. Once we started digging, those two (Crescent View and Forbes) were in worse condition than we anticipated going in,” Mr. Coutu explained.
Three roads of note — Lyon Avenue, Freeborn Avenue and North Broadway — weren’t tackled during the process due to late work done there by National Grid and the city for its water pipe extension project. Mr. Coutu said weather issues make it unfeasible to continue any further. Dropping temperatures are making it too cold to pave. He said those roads remaining to be repaired will be completed in the spring of 2015.
“As always, we thank the residents and business owners for their patience during construction projects. It’s always appreciated,” Mr. Coutu added.
