Local
Cranston and RIDOT weigh drainage upgrades for flood-prone Oaklawn underpass
A proposed three-part approach could reduce flooding near Oaklawn and Wilbur avenues, where heavy rain regularly leaves drivers stranded. RIDOT cautioned that the improvements may not eliminate flooding.
Cranston and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation are considering a three-stage drainage plan to address repeated flooding beneath the Oaklawn Avenue underpass, but officials say the work would not guarantee the area stays dry.
At a public forum Thursday, Oct. 22, RIDOT presented findings from its Wilbur Avenue and Oaklawn Avenue Drainage Study. The intersection and underpass area floods after many heavy rainstorms, disrupting travel and frustrating nearby residents.
RIDOT official Joseph Baker said the alternatives under consideration are intended to provide separate benefits that could add up to a more substantial improvement. He cautioned that flooding could still occur even if the long-term plan is carried out.
Potential funding sources were also discussed at the meeting. Officials did not identify specific sources or provide a timeline for the proposed work in the information available from the forum.
The recurring problem affects a key local route and highlights the limits of drainage improvements in an area vulnerable to heavy rain. For residents and drivers, the next questions are which measures will move forward, how they will be paid for and how much protection they can provide.