Some 25,000 vehicles travel through the historical village of Apponaug every day, yet its transportation system was never designed to accommodate that much traffic. The village lies between I-95 and many neighborhoods for the City of Warwick and congestion plagued the area, leading to safety concerns for residents.
To create better traffic flow and increase safety for drivers and those traveling on foot, RIDOT settled on a five-roundabout system – a project called “The Apponaug Circulator.” This roundabout system allows for free traffic flow, which cuts down on the congestion through the village. It also allows for safer transportation, as it has eliminated the possibility of “T-bone” crashes and cut down on vehicles speeding through the village. Overall, the $71 million project cut traffic down to about 6,800 vehicles per day, as thru traffic is now diverted elsewhere, while making the village even more pedestrian friendly. It also now incorporates plenty of on-street parking, a dedicated bike lane, and a wide travel lane for vehicles.
America's Transportation Awards 