U.S. Route 44 Putnam Pike

Smithfield, Rhode Island

KEY DESIGN ELEMENT:

Reconstruction Design Improvements

Project Description:

Commonwealth Engineers & Consultants, Inc.  developed reconstruction Improvement plans for 1.1 miles of principal arterial roadway.  The project is located within the commercial zone of Smithfield and includes turning lanes, as well as the reconstruction of R.I. Route 5.  In addition, geometric roadway design, drainage, utilities, retaining walls and intersection signal improvements were designed.

The project also included extensive environmental coordination resulting in permits from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A significant challenge of this project was to keep traffic flowing through the construction zone during the replacement of all utility poles, the installation of the new drainage system, new 12-inch and 16-inch water mains and fiberoptic communication duct banks.

This project is the first of three contracts for the reconstruction of 8.5 miles of U.S. Route 44.