Pawtucket – The Dexter Street Bridge, one of the main arteries connecting Pawtucket and Central Falls, is getting a makeover. In a ceremony today, City, State and Federal officials gathered to celebrate the start of the project which will see $3.9 million in improvements made to the roadways from School Street in Central Falls, to Goff Avenue in Pawtucket. D’Ambra Construction was awarded the contract for project.

The event featured a speaking program consisting of: Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti, Governor Raimondo, Senators Reed and Whitehouse, Congressman Cicilline, Central Falls Mayor James Diossa and Dylan Zelazo, Chief of Staff to Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien.

In his comments, Zelazo noted the need to improve upon the current condition of bridges and roads, particularly gateways vital to connectivity between neighboring communities. "The Dexter Street Bridge is one of the primary gateways linking Pawtucket and Central Falls. This infrastructure improvement project and others like it throughout our communities are positioning Pawtucket and Central Falls for future growth and development," said Zelazo.

According to the Department of Transportation, in addition to the aforementioned resurfacing of roadways over the course of the next year, crews will replace sidewalks and curbing, upgrade existing traffic signal equipment, install stamped asphalt crosswalks, plant new trees, add new roadway signs and pavement markings, and make minor drainage improvements.

Pawtucket is already underway in addressing the roads and infrastructure within the City. This past November, voters overwhelmingly approved a bond that will see over thirty miles of City streets repaved and resurfaced. Those repairs have commenced and will be ongoing throughout the end of the summer and into the fall.

“The construction, repair and maintenance of our streets and roads, are among the most critical functions federal, state and local governments are tasked with,” said Mayor Grebien of the project. “Safe and efficient intra-state travel are crucial for the safety of the residents, but also crucial to a thriving economy.”