The Southern Strech: Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation & Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management have made great progress with an eight-mile off-road segment already opened.

The Kelly House Museum, located along the bikeway in Lincoln, RI focuses on transportation history.

The completed segment begins in Manville, RI and heads south through the towns of Cumberland and Lincoln, RI.

In Ashton, RI, the Bikeway follows the route of the Blackstone Canal for three miles, mostly on top of the historic towpath. While at Ashton, visit the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Museum, a newly opened museum and visitor center adjacent to the Bikeway that offers free tours. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management manages the Rhode Island segments which have already become a popular recreation destination.

Interim on-road routes stretch north to Woonsocket, RI, home of the Museum of Work and Culture, and south to Providence, RI. While in Pawtucket, RI visit the Slater Mill, the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. From here, one can follow city streets into Providence to make a connection with the popular East Bay Bikepath that travels 14.5 miles along Narragansett Bay to the historic waterfront community of Bristol, RI.

BIKEWAY CLOSED AT MARTIN STREET

The Blackstone River Bikeway is closed at Martin St. in Lincoln, RI. The Bikeway will be closed at this crossing with no detour available while the RI Department of Transportation replaces the Martin St. bridge. The construction is expected to last until the Fall of 2006.

From the Front St. parking lot in Lincoln, RI you will be able to travel for 2 miles north before reaching the closure. From Rt. 116 / Kelly House you will only be able to travel south for 0.5 miles before reaching the closure. From Rt. 116 / Kelly House you can still travel north on the Bikeway for a continuous 3 miles to Manville, RI.

Map: Southern Stretch Overview - This link will take you to a larger map with still more detailed inserts (best viewed at 1024x768 or 800x600 resolution).

What's New - Read about the latest status of work on the bikeway.