STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly has passed the Rhode Island Utility Fair Share Roadway Repair Act, which requires utility companies’ repairs to roads they perform underground work on to meet the standards of the state and/or the municipality affected.
The bill, (2019-H 5028A, 2019-S 189A), was introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick). The measure now moves to the governor’s office.
“Rhode Island roads have become a tapestry of potholes and patch jobs,” said Representative McNamara, who serves as chairman of the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee. “Too often, when a utility company tears up a road to do underground work, they repair the area with a shoddy patch job. These patchwork roads can have a profound effect on automobile maintenance and at times even be dangerous to drivers.”
Repaving and repair of the roadway would be to the satisfaction of the state or municipality controlling the road. The legislation would also provide for a complaint procedure for defective or incomplete repairs by public utilities.
“The legislation would also provide a system to make certain that utility companies are complying with the law,” said Senator McCaffrey. “If it’s determined that the job was not done — or was not done satisfactorily — then the public utility administrator would charge an amount for reparation or repaving of the road. We want to hold public utilities accountable when they start tearing up public roads.”
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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