Broadway Work Inches Along

NEWPORT, RI—Work continues on the seemingly never-ending Broadway streetscape improvement project.

This week, crews will continue sidewalk work from Equality Park to Caleb Earl Street.

Work will also continue on parking and sidewalk work from Caleb Earl Street to Oak Street.

"From Oak Street to Marlborough Street, we will continue sidewalk removal, installation of curbing and sidewalk, asphalt removal for the new pervious parking areas, and new light pole installation," the state Department of Transportation said in its weekly newsletter. "From Marlborough Street to Farewell Street, we will begin removal of the lights and possibly begin to remove sidewalks."

Parking was set to be restored from Equality Park to Caleb Earl Street on Friday afternoon. Parking remains unavailable between Caleb Earl Street and Oak Street. Parking restrictions remain in place from Oak Street to Farewell Street during the day.

"As sections of parking from Equality Park become available, sections heading toward Farewell Street will be closed for construction of the next parking area," the DOT said.

The construction project has been taxing for local businesses along the busy Broadway strip. Many businesses have been without dedicated parking and complain that customers have been scared off by the noise, dirt and propensity of orange traffic barrels and caution flags.

City officials have tried to respond to those concerns but a push to have the project delayed for the busy summer season was rebuffed over concerns that further delays would push the project beyond the construction season into another year. That would drag out the project, they said, and raise costs.