on 02-25-2010 02:17

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Call it a form of “road rage.” City councilors last week vented their frustration with the condition of the roadways around the Division Street bridge and voted to send several letters to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to address the problems.

Councilor Albert Vitali Jr. said he thinks RIDOT should be doing more to help the city repair potholes and other damage to the surface roadway of the Division Street bridge and the surrounding detour streets. He noted that upon previous complaints, RIDOT  “threw us a little asphalt and the city had to do the work.” He maintained that the state should have cold-planed the surface for the city instead.
Vitali reiterated his contention that Pawtucket should be getting a share of the fines that are collected by the state from the tractor trailers that violate the bridge's weight limit. He noted that while the I-95  span is a state highway, the detour for tractor trailers across the Division Street bridge is causing extra wear and tear on the city's roads.
Vitali said that bill to this effect was introduced last year by state Rep. Elaine Coderre, but no action was taken. He suggested that a letter be sent to the city's legislative delegation so the bill is given more priority.
“We want our delegation to get some of this fine money back for Pawtucket,” he stated.
Vitali added that he also wanted a letter sent to the state to inquire how much money has been collected over the past two years by the state police in fines for the weight limit violations.
Vitali also proposed the idea of having toll booths or some other fee-collection mechanism installed on the Division Street Bridge to charge the tractor trailers that use it as a detour from I-95. “If we don't get money from the state, maybe we'll have to generate our own income,” stated Vitali.
Councilor Thomas Hodge also expressed concerns about repair work that the state appears to be doing at some of the other cross bridges along I-95.  He said he has recently seen work crews doing reinforcement work at Grace Street and Pine Street and at George Street and Garden Street, and wants an update from RIDOT on the condition of these bridge segments as well.
The council agreed to send letters to RIDOT on all of these requests.