BURRILLVILLE – Changes coming to Nasonville include improvements to the bridge and intersection by the Western Hotel, and this month, members of the Town Council unanimously endorsed the idea of creating a roundabout to improve traffic and safety in the village.
The proposal was presented by the Burrillville Redevelopment Agency as part of a larger plan to revitalize the village. The group has held several community meetings with village residents, and members noted this week that road improvements have been their top concern.
A project to improve the Branch River Bridge is on the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s work list for 2026, and BRA’s goal was to weigh in beforehand, giving state officials guidance on how to move forward.
“It was agreed that it would be important to connect with the council for feedback,” said Scott Gibbs, president of New England Economic Development Services.
Gibbs has been working with the BRA to compare potential plans for the busy intersection, with a focus on improving safety, vehicular circulation and pedestrian access.
“The overall objectives were to improve traffic flow, improve safety, and to provide for bicycle access and pedestrians,” said Steven Cabral of Crossman Engineering during a presentation to the council last week.
Cabral noted that the narrowness of the 50-foot-long bridge, carrying travelers along Victory Highway over the Branch River, is a major concern. Built in 1907, the traditional stone arch bridge was designed by Woonsocket engineers Arnold Seagrave and Samuel Lincoln, according to a RIDOT inventory on historic highway bridges. The iron picket railings were replaced by the present concrete railings in 1924.
Currently, the narrow structure provides no space for bicyclists or foot traffic.
“It’s not really a pedestrian-friendly area,” noted Cabral. “The dimensional restrictions are rather tight.”
RIDOT officials have not yet determined if the project will focus on rehabilitation or replacement of the historic bridge, but if widening the structure is not an option, Cabral noted parallel bicycle bridge could provide an additional route for pedestrians.
A study of the nearby intersection documented 946 vehicles entering the area during the peak hour of 5 to 6 p.m., with 400 or so headed northward on Douglas Pike. From 7 to 8 a.m., 853 entered the intersection, with the majority headed south.
Between 2016 and 2018, there were 16 accidents in the area, half of which involved single vehicles with fixed objects at night.
Cabral noted the fact points to a need for work on signing and speed limits.
“Advance warning is really necessary to alert the drivers as they approach the intersection,” he said.
Cabral presented various potential plans for the area, including creation of a mini-roundabout, an improvement he noted would force traffic to slow down, lessen conflicts for left turns and create a visual warning for motorists.
“It tends to minimize certain types of accidents,” Cabral said of roundabouts adding that, “it is common for some communities to have a resistance,” to the idea of creating them.
Councilor Stephen Rawson said he favors the roundabout approach, pointing to one recently built on Route 44 in Chepachet.
“Initially it was not very well received, but as people got used to it, it seems to work very well,” Rawson said.
Councilor Raymond Trinque agreed, noting that the Chepachet roundabout, “does an effective job of slowing people down.”
Trinque also pointed to the need to make improvements for foot traffic.
“I think you can’t spend millions of dollars down there and not make a safe pedestrian way to get through,” he said.
Councilor Donald Fox questioned how many pedestrians would actually utilize the access.
BRA Chairman Jim Langlois noted that at community meeting over the past year, members heard many comments from residents and, “The road improvements are what they want to have happen first.”
Councilors unanimously endorsed the concept, but there will still be plenty of opportunity for more residents to weigh in. Town Manager Michael Wood noted the RIDOT won’t move forward with a plan without coming back to the community.
