Two Providence Streets Just Paved Are Being Ripped Up a Month Later By RI Energy

Two Providence Streets Just Paved Are Being Ripped Up a Month Later By RI Energy

For more than two years, South Main Street and North Main Street have been in near-constant turmoil due to utility work conducted by Rhode Island Energy and its predecessor National Grid.

Just weeks ago, the streets' re-pavement was completed. In addition, the streets perpendicular in the College Hill neighborhood between Benefit Street and North Main were also repaved. Some were repaved for the first time in decades.

During the construction, store owners repeatedly criticized the impact of the disruption on their businesses and the lack of notification about parking bans.

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In May, Marc Streisand, the owner of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers - one of Rhode Island's top retailers, criticized the city of Providence for what he said was a lack of communications by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza's administration regarding construction.

As a result, he was forced to close his store on South Main Street due to road work -- and said there was no notice from the city prior to the work being conducted.

 

Now. Streets to be Torn up Just Weeks After Repavement

But now, just weeks later, Rhode Island Energy crews are back on site, poised to tear up both North Main Street and Meeting Street.

While the asphalt is barely dry, crews were covering North Main Street and the side street, Meeting Street, with spray paint on the new blacktop. An excavator is now onsite to begin to tear up the two streets. 

A crew of approximately ten have been at work each day, and two Providence Police detail offers have spent the past two days gearing up to rip it up all over again.

 

Lack of Coordination, Ratepayers Foot Bill

Nearby, a rehab project at the Providence Preservation Society's (PPS) building requires a power-up grade. The organization filed design and engineering plans with the City of Providence in December of 2020.

"We recognize that restoring the streets where we work as quickly and efficiently as possible is critical to the local residents and businesses impacted in our work area.  The portion of Meeting Street that was recently repaved was done in coordination and with the support of the City," said Ted Kresse, spokesperson for RI Energy.

But the upgrade was no secret. City officials knew, the non-profit knew and Rhode Island Energy should have known. But none of them will foot the bill for the cost.

According to PPS's filing with the city of Providence in December 2020:

Providence Preservation Society is proposing selective rehabilitation, renovation, and an addition to the Old Brick School House at 24 Meeting Street. The project will allow better public access, accommodate a growing staff, and address current structural, mechanical and accessibility deficiencies.

The major component of the project is a small (12' x 17.75', 213 sf footprint) two-story addition on the north (rear) elevation. The addition includes a new elevator and a vestibule. A machine room addition from the mid-20th century and a small wood and glass vestibule addition will be removed.

The city of Providence has known about the project, but failed to coordinate with the repaving contract. PPS failed to notify the city prior before the repaving began. 

PPS executive director Brent Runyon refused to respond to questions about the project and the lack of coordination.

"At that time, the customer that we are now assisting did not have a final connection agreement in place and there was no clear timetable for when their application would be completed.  We, and the City agreed, the most prudent action was to move ahead with the larger paving project during the summer months, and not keep the street in any more of an impacted state than necessary," said Kresse.

Who will pay for the tens of thousands to repave the streets -- Rhode Island Energy ratepayers. Electric payers have been hit this year with a 47% rate increase in September.

 

Endless Turmoil, Endless Adverse Impact

This uncoordinated disruption has gone on for two years.

In December of 2020, GoLocal reported about the impact of the lack of coordination: 

If the coronavirus, the summer riots, a recession, and now the December partial closures weren’t enough, now National Grid has been blocking traffic, tearing up the street and sidewalks directly in front of dozens of retailers and small restaurants in Providence.

In an average year, the holiday season is a make or break time of survival for local retailers. This year is not an average year.

From the southern end of South Main Street straight through to North Main, a National Grid project has blocked off almost all public parking, ripped up the streets and closed off sidewalks, and the company has installed barriers.

The impact has been nothing short of devastating for small business owners.

"This [road work] is supposed to go away soon. In the meantime, no one walked into the store today. I’ve literally seen the mailman and Fed Ex man, and that's it," said Todd Lattimore, the owner of Found Antiques, on Tuesday. "This is cuckoo crazy for cocoa puffs. There is literally a barrier on the sidewalk saying please use the other sidewalk — how are people supposed to get in my store?"

For the range of businesses — clothing, restaurant and antique shops, the virus has been devastating, but the impact the government-approved construction during the holiday season and the lack of concern by National Grid has been demoralizing.

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