Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) requests $25 million from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program to support the Henderson Bridge Phase 2: Multimodal Connections, a surface transportation project that will leverage repairs on eight major bridges into a complete, multimodal transportation investment. This $35 million project builds upon the Henderson Bridge Phase 1 bridge reconstruction to move beyond a state of good repair.

2024 RAISE Grant Application Narrative

What You Need to Know

This project will create opportunities for Rhode Island to realize its multimodal vision by:

1. Henderson Parkway: Converting an existing freeway-style facility into a complete street with a lower design speed, dedicated, separated shared use path for non-motorized use and a roadway design sufficient for future Transit Emphasis Corridor (TEC) implementation by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA).
2. Install a roundabout: Decommission and demolish a fair condition bridge with potential to shift toward poor condition, a loop ramp, and two traffic signals and replace with an at-grade roundabout providing expanded automobile connectivity and supporting Henderson Parkway complete street.
3. Multimodal Network: Install two (2) miles of separated, dedicated non-motorized facilities to improve bicycle and pedestrian connections between the cities of Providence and East Providence, and specifically the Blackstone River Bikeway and the East Bay Bike Path serving thousands of riders each year. This connects the isolated two-thirds mile Phase 1 bike path into the regional network. Additionally, this project is designed for future transit lane implementation by RIPTA.
4. Install Scenic Overlooks: Building on the Phase 1 project, this Phase 2 project will install two (2) scenic overlooks on the Henderson Bridge (Br #600) over the Seekonk River providing an opportunity to invest in the community and attract non-motorized users.

Taken together, this wide range of improvements will transform non-motorized connectivity on a regional scale by linking major bikeways and on a local scale for residents of East Providence.

Letters of Support

Additional Information