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Resident asks council to remove cones blocking sidewalks on Summit and White Parkway
Summary
A North Smithfield resident told the council that caution tape and cones placed across neighborhood sidewalks have made walking less safe and asked the town to consider lowering or removing the tape while engineers assess permanent repairs.
At the Sept. 15 open forum, resident Maggie Newton of 47 Summit Ave. asked the North Smithfield Town Council to remove cones and caution tape that currently block sidewalks on Summit Avenue and White Parkway and to consider temporary, lower-impact measures while the town evaluates long-term repairs.
Newton told the council she and several neighbors regularly use the sidewalks for walking with children, strollers and pets and said the barricades push pedestrians into the street, exposing them to fast-moving delivery vehicles. She said the raised sidewalk panels are caused by tree roots and that neighbors do not want trees in the verge cut down to correct the issue.
Newton suggested interim fixes such as levelling certain raised sections with concrete, leaving a single cone at the site of a hazard, painting or otherwise marking the trip hazard, or posting signage that warns pedestrians of uneven surfaces. She said the project is not a top-town priority for residents but requested at least temporary restoration of sidewalk access for the coming fall and winter.
Town responses and follow-up
Town Administrator (on the record) said he would consult the Rhode Island Trust about liability questions the next day and, if the trust advises that reduced measures are acceptable, Public Works would remove the caution tape and provide lower-impact warnings such as signs or single cones. The administrator also invited Newton to leave contact information so staff can follow up with the result of their inquiry.
Ending
Newton’s remarks were recorded during the open-forum portion of the meeting; the town indicated it would seek liability guidance from the Rhode Island Trust and return to the resident with its findings.
