Work Planned For Purgatory Road
WORK PLANNED FOR PURGATORY ROAD
MIDDLETOWN, RI (OCTOBER 7, 2026) – Purgatory Road is in line for exciting improvements to make the southern end of Middletown more accessible and safe.
Recently, the Town Council awarded a contract to East Coast Landscaping & Construction for sidewalk upgrades, new bicycle lanes, road work and related enhancements.
Town Engineer John J. Mello Jr. said the Portsmouth-based East Coast will start work soon and continue as late as weather allows.
He said the project will pause before Summer 2027 to not interfere with the busy beach season. All work was expected to wrap up in Fall 2027.
“I really feel this is a good project,” Mello told local leaders during a briefing from Town Hall. “There’s no question this will be better for bicycle and pedestrian safety than it is now and motorists as well.”
Mello said the project includes approximately 4,900 feet of roadwork from the end of Aquidneck Avenue to the Surfer’s End portion of Second Beach.
The five-foot-wide concrete sidewalks will be installed on the southern side of Purgatory Road and separated from the roadway by a grassy stretch.
Currently, there are no sidewalks in the area, which is used by pedestrians walking the Easton’s Point neighborhood.
It will also be the first time there are sidewalks linking the lower Aquidneck Avenue business district and nearby First Beach in Newport to Second Beach in town.
A four-foot-wide dedicated bicycle lane was expected to be installed along both sides of Purgatory Road, another first for the area.
Crosswalks and drainage upgrades were also planned as part of the work.
Anyone with questions about the project is asked to contact the Public Works department at 401-846-2119 or file a request through the town’s online assistance portal Middletown Helps (https://mdl.town/Helps) powered by SeeClickFix.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues asked that everything reasonably possible be done to make the area look good by planting new trees.
“I think we should put in as many trees as we can,” Rodrigues said. “We want it to look nice and fit into that area. That’s what we promised, so that’s what we should do.”
Of the $3.2 million total cost, figures from the Finance Department showed Middletown was on the hook for less than 25 percent of the total cost. The town will use fund balance and Parks & Recreation money collected from daily beach parking fees to cover those expenses, not new tax dollars.
Local leaders said state and federal money will cover 75 percent of the total price tag, funding that was integral to make the project happen. They also thanked the state’s Congressional delegation – particularly former Congressman David Cicilline -- for its work securing close to $1 million for the effort.
“We’re very appreciative to the state (Department of Transportation) for its continued commitment to Middletown,” Rodrigues said. “If you look around our community, the amount of work that’s happened here over the past few years is amazing, all projects that improve the safety and efficiency of Middletown.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Purgatory
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
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