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Portsmouth wins $500,000 CDBG award for housing heating upgrades; Mount Hope Bridge reopening noted
Summary
Town Administrator Joe Rainer announced a $500,000 CDBG award, administered by the Rhode Island Department of Housing, to fund boiler and heating system work at Quaker Manor and Sabatus housing; the council also heard that the Mount Hope Bridge resurfacing finished early and reopened to traffic.
Portsmouth officials announced a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant intended to fund heating-system upgrades at town housing complexes and received an update that the Mount Hope Bridge resurfacing reopened ahead of schedule.
"Late Friday afternoon, we received official notice that the CDBG grant award for $500,000, through HUD administered by the Rhode Island Department of Housing has been, is going to be granted," Town Administrator Joe Rainer said. Rainer said the award will fund replacement of boilers, hot water tanks, furnaces and related equipment in Quaker Manor and Quaker Estate Apartments (referred to in backup materials as Sabatus Housing) and that contractors will aim to complete the work before the winter heating season.
Rainer also told the council that the Mount Hope Bridge reopened to traffic on Aug. 16 after a resurfacing project. The contractor completed a thin bonded overlay 33 hours ahead of the scheduled reopening, and town staff said the overlay is expected to extend the road surface life by about five years. The Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority has long‑term plans for a full redecking at a later date.
Rainer said the town will initiate procurement to begin the housing renovations and stressed the timeline to finish the mechanical work before winter. No formal council action was required at the Aug. 25 meeting on the grant announcement.
The town also received updates on household participation in other programs and on the schedule for fall events and paving; town hall will be closed Sept. 1 for Labor Day.
