Administrator issues emergency order restricting exit to Sayles Hill Road during rush hours in N.S.

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NORTH SMITHFIELD – Noting that reckless driving, speeding and increased traffic volume has created hazardous conditions, Town Administrator Paul Zwolenski has issued an executive order restricting access to the exit on Route 146 to Sayles Hill Road.

Starting immediately, the exit will be closed Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.

A major rehabilitation project is currently underway at the busy intersection with construction of a flyover bridge that will allow commuters to bypass the roadway.

But it seems that in recent weeks, traffic from the highway has created a dangerous situation.

“The chief of police reported that the increase in traffic volume due to the large-scale construction project…has caused hazardous traffic condition on Sayles Hill Road including: excessive speed, overweight, multiple axle tractor tailor style trucks, vehicles driving recklessly, vehicles overtaking multiple vehicles left of center, and an increased volume alone on a small winding roadway,” notes the emergency order, signed on Thursday, Oct. 3.

The order notes that there are bus stops on the road during the time of heaviest traffic.

“Restrictions are subject to change depending on construction and its impacts to public safety on Sayles Hill Road neighborhood,” noted a release on the change.

The decision comes just after an announcement by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation that the exit to Sayles Hill Road will be closed overnight starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.

The full road construction project is expected to be complete by summer of 2026.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. DT….Do you live on Sayles Hill?? I am guessing not if you are saying traffic has not increased and people are not driving reckless. On 2 separate occasions someone with a Massachusetts license plate has tried to pass my vehicle on Sayles Hill Road. In a separate incident another out of state vehicle tried to pass and hit a telephone pole on SaylesHill Road. Let’s not forget that a resident of Sayles Hill rd was assaulted by someone who didn’t like that he was doing the speed limit. What do you consider reckless and unsafe??

  2. The other option would be to fix the traffic signal programming. It is too restrictive on the 146 Southbound traffic and causing the backup.

  3. Since this does not effect Paul closing a road is ok. The reasoning is poor and as traffic has not increased and driving is not reckless. This is the lazy police department not wanting to perform there job and monitor traffic but we can have a police officer at the job site all day adding zero value. Also who is going to enforce this executive order and an executive order is not law and the word restrict is vague and not enforceable.

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