Quaker Lane Restriping, Lane Reduction Begins Today

Things are going to look a bit different on Quaker Lane starting this week. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation had announced it will begin to restripe a portion of the road this week, decreasing it from four lanes to three.

The 2.2-mile-libg segment of Route 2 (South County Trail/Quaker Lane) from the Route 4 interchange in East Greenwich to the intersection with Route 102 (Ten Rod Road) in North Kingstown will be restriped to three lanes on trial basis to gauge reaction from locals and motorists. Originally, the DOT planned to reduce the road to two lanes, but has since decided to test out three lanes after public outcry from locals.

The process involves the layout of a new traffic pattern and the removal of the old pavement markings, which began today at 6 a.m. Daytime work is expected from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and nighttime is expected Tuesday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists in the area may encounter lane restrictions.

The new configuration will have one travel lane in each direction and a center turning lane to aid turning movements into driveways and businesses. There also will be wider shoulders.

Once the trial is over, RIDOT will work with the community to determine whether to leave the road as is or return it to its original four-lane configuration. Construction on the $2.9 million project would then proceed and conclude by late 2011. The improvements will create a smoother driving surface and make the road safer for those driving through the area.

This section of Route 2 was a much busier roadway prior to the extension of nearby Route 4 in the late 1980s. With a larger portion of the traffic shifted to the highway, RIDOT believes the four-lane configuration is no longer necessary and a lane reduction can be implemented without causing congestion.

North Kingstown and its surrounding towns are no stranger to lane reductions. In 1994, RIDOT restriped Route 1A (Boston Neck Road) from Wickford village to the Route 138 interchange from four lanes to two lanes. The same lane reduction was instituted in 1998 for a section of Route 2 in East Greenwich from Division Street to the area of the Stanley-Bostitch facility. More recently, the Department has instituted lane reductions from four lanes to three lanes on a segment of East Main Road in Portsmouth and on Putnam Pike in Smithfield.

Motorists with questions can contact RIDOT’s Customer Service office at 401-222-2450 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.