Avoid it!

Those two words best describe the best approach over the next two weeks to Cowesett Road, a major east-west connector between Post Road and Route 2.

To be precise, sections of the road, which weaves between wooded stretches and residential developments, will be limited to single-lane traffic this week and next.

And then, depending on the location and conditions, Warwick Director of Public Works Eric Earl expects the road will be closed for periods, forcing detours and delays that could be extensive.

If you haven’t guessed, a good portion of the road will be repaved from curb to curb.

Mayor Frank Picozzi made repaving the Cowesset Road a priority this summer as a passenger in his car with his wife, Kim, behind the wheel. He hadn’t realized the condition of the road. The road was put on the list, but it looked like it would have to wait until next year. Two things changed: nearly $5 million poured into the city’s repaving program from the state, and global warming that has allowed asphalt plants to continue operations beyond their customary closure in November.

“There’s no improvement without inconvenience,” Picozzi said.

The mayor said federal American Rescue Plan Act and state funding made available through Gov. Dan McKee’s RhodeRestore program has enabled the city to expand its repaving program. Since so many of Warwick’s repaving projects were ready to be implemented, having cleared questions of whether there were pending utility work or developments and the city had the funds to match the grant, the city received $5 million of the $20-million program.

Since taking office in 2021 and using $10 million in city funds made available by the administration of the late Joseph Solomon plus ARPA funds, Picozzi estimates the city has been capable of repaving about 25% of city roads, including Jefferson Boulevard, which because of its width and length and cost had been postponed for years.

Cowesett was among the roads put on the back burner because of cost. But it’s not going to wait any longer.

Milling of the road surface was slated to start Monday. During that phase, Earl said, sections would be limited to a single lane with police alternating lane usage to eastbound and westbound traffic.

During the next step, which could start this coming week, repaving will further restrict traffic.

There will be closures and detours.

 “We will try to keep it open as much as we can,” Earl said.

About 1.2 miles of the road will be repaved this year, and not all of that in a continuous line. There are sections where utility work is being done. Overall, about half of the road will be repaved this year with the remaining half slated for next year. In total, the project is budgeted at $800,000.

Miozzi, who with Vinagro was awarded the repaving contract, will be doing Cowesett Road.

And before the snow flies and temperatures drop and asphalt plants close, Earl and Picozzi hope to at least temporarily remedy a rough section of heavily traveled Kilvert Street, where the mayor says “the pot holes are big enough to have pot holes.” 

Ideally, that section of the road from Jefferson Boulevard to Metro Center also needs to be widened in places to provide for a sidewalk. That work is slated for next year.

Earl said the especially rough section of the road is beset by poor drainage.

“That road is going to fall apart if we don’t fix it,” he said.

He said the city should be able to temporarily resolve the drainage to get through the winter and minimize any liability to the city. Looking ahead to next year, Gilbane Street is another heavily used road that the city plans to tackle.

So, having worked for the city as its engineer and then returning as director of public works for Picozzi, what the difference in city roads between now and then?

“It’s almost night and day,” said Earl.

“That $10-million bond [approved during the Solomon administration] started the ball rolling,” he said.