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Cahoone Road Bridge Closed, Grant-Funded Repair Coming in 2026

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Cahoone Road Bridge, closed to traffic due to erosion from heavy rains in January. The bridge is scheduled for repair in 2026. A RIDOT van was parked on the opposite side, with three men working under it on Feb. 22, 2024.

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Cahoone Road Bridge, closed to traffic due to erosion from heavy rains in January. The bridge is scheduled for repair in 2026. A RIDOT van was parked on the opposite side, with three men working under it on Feb. 22, 2024.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Cahoone Road Bridge, closed to traffic Feb. 20 due to erosion from heavy rains in January. The bridge is scheduled for repair in 2026. A RIDOT van was parked on the opposite side, with three men working under it on Feb. 22, 2024.
COVENTRY, RI — Cahoone Road Bridge, closed Feb. 20 after the RIDOT determined erosion had caused “serious bridge deficiencies,” will remain off-limits for the time being, possibly till 2026.

DPW Director Kevin McGee said town engineers will meet with RIDOT engineers to determine if a quicker or temporary fix for the bridge is possible. As to whether that will happen before RIDOT has scheduled a repair, moved from 2027 to 2026, covered by a federal grant, “Its still to early in the process,” to tell, McGee said. He said he expects to know more about what can be done, and when, next week.

The bridge, town-owned and town-maintained, crosses the dirt road over a branch of Warwick Brook in Western Coventry. It  was one of several the RIDOT inspected following high river levels caused by very heavy rainfall in mid-January.

“RIDOT has conducted a number of inspections of RI bridges to check for flood impact. This included an inspection Monday of the Cahoone Road Bridge, which resulted in RIDOT’s recommendation that it be closed due to scour (erosion),” said RIDOT spokesman Charles St. Martin.

Although town-owned, the bridge is eligible for federal funding, St. Martin said.

“We have placed it into a bridge group for replacement starting in 2026, and moved it up one year from 2027 to 2026,” he said.

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] A sign warns drivers of the closed bridge at the intersection of Sisson Road and Cahoone Road.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] A sign warns drivers of the closed bridge at the intersection of Sisson Road and Cahoone Road.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Cahoone Road Bridge, closed to traffic due to erosion from heavy rains in January. The bridge is scheduled for repair in 2026. The bridge supports appear to be leaning to the side.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The bridge on Cahoone Road, closed to traffic due to erosion from heavy rains in January. The bridge is scheduled for repair in 2026. The bridge supports appear to be leaning to the side.
Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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