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Charlestown council asks RIDOT to study right‑turn lane into Wildflower Road
Summary
Following a petition of about 49 residents, the council unanimously approved a resolution asking RIDOT to study whether adding a right‑turn lane from Route 1 North to Wildflower Road would improve traffic safety and whether guardrail relocation could allow lane widening.
The Charlestown Town Council voted unanimously Oct. 28 to request that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation study the intersection of Route 1 North and Wildflower Road to determine whether a right‑turn lane would improve safety.
Councilors noted a petition of roughly 49 signatures included in the meeting packet and said a recent RIDOT conversation suggested the agency would examine ownership and guardrail placement to see whether the right‑of‑way could be widened. Council members who visited the site said the current breakdown lane is constrained where the guardrail narrows the shoulder; if the guardrail can be pushed back the state could add lane width without major reconstruction.
Resident Joe DeMarco urged the council to consider longer‑term options, including roundabouts, saying, “Roundabouts in general tend to be safer than intersections.” Councilors replied that a roundabout would require a major reconstruction and would take far longer, while a short‑term solution like a right‑turn lane might be quicker to implement.
The council waived reading of the solicitor’s resolution, discussed asking RIDOT to include nearby East and West Beach Roads in any study, and approved the resolution by unanimous voice vote.
