Mayor Joseph Polisena went to last Thursday night’s workshop on the proposed redesign of the Route 6-10 Connector with one thing on his mind.
“My concern is – and always will be – public safety,” the mayor said. “We have rescues that have to, in some cases, make life-threatening runs to Rhode Island Hospital, and sometimes Hasbro Children’s Hospital. I don’t want to see anyone die because of a [traffic] bottle neck.”
There are various options for the connector – three, in fact – that Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti explained to more than 100 people who turned out for the workshop.
Those options include a traditional highway approach, a pure boulevard concept as proposed by some in the community, and a hybrid approach that retains the expressway but at a lower level with the boulevard feature on the upper level.
“It is important to note that this is just the beginning process,” Alviti said. “And the RIDOT will be having a public hearing process as required by the National Environmental Policy Act.”
Alviti announced that that process is expected to begin this summer, and that a final design cannot be determined until then.
Polisena, meanwhile, said he favors the DOT’s 6-10 Connector plan that will keep all traffic moving and keep people safe.
“People who ride bicycles want to take vehicles off the 6-10 Connector, and that’s absolutely absurd,” he said. “I’ve heard of foolish suggestions before, but the boulevard plan is ridiculous.”
Polisena praised Alviti, saying “he knows his stuff.”
“He’s probably the best DOT director this state has seen in many, many years,” the mayor said. “His presentation told us about the number of bridges that are unsafe and how the state cannot wait another 20 or so years to make repairs.”
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