Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WEST WARWICK, R.I -- West Warwick has received $562,000 in federal stimulus money earmarked for repairs and improvements at intersections along federally designated roadways, town officials said Wednesday.

The Town Council voted on Tuesday to divide the money with $112,000 going to each of the five districts that each council member represents. July 1 is the deadline for submitting preliminary plans to the state Department of Transportation, said West Warwick Public Works Director Paul Thomas.

Thomas said the town received a map of which roads and streets are federally designated. These are roads that would be used during a national emergency, a classification that dates back to the World War II era, Thomas said.

He added that the money is not for major construction or projects already in the works.

"We are not going to be just handed the money. It goes through a long process of federal review, plans and specifications," Thomas said. "They want bids and historical studies. It takes a while. We have to go through this accounting phase and design phase first."

While the majority of the council is still deciding where it will use the money, Councilman Peter Calci is set on using his district's share to complete a new turn lane at the intersection of East Greenwich Avenue and Route 2. Calci said motorists have created their own lane by driving over the curbing and grass.

Other places the funding may be used are at Church Street and at the New London Avenue and Earl Street to improve traffic patterns there, Thomas said.

The town has until Sept. 2010 to use the funding.

 Tags  RI stimulus West Warwick

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