Greater City Providence

Arcade work!

ArcadeThe good news, it appears work is commencing at the Arcade. The bad news, said work is closing the sidewalk.

Of course this sidewalk closure comes just as we have hopes the sidewalk in front of the neighboring 35 Weybosset façade will finally be able to re-open. Though that project was stalled out for a bit, it seems there is renewed work happening on that site to building their parking lot (sigh) and move the façade bracing allowing the sidewalk to open.

Although it is of course great to finally see progress at the Arcade, it would be greaterer if the city had policies that accommodated pedestrians during such construction projects. You can bet your ass that auto traffic wouldn’t have been allowed to be restricted for the duration of this project. It would be simple to create a diversion for pedestrians (you know, like the guy with the backpack in the photo is doing all by himself).

Reader submitted photo of the Weybosset side of the Arcade last Friday.

Greater City Providence

Promoting the smart urban growth of the Greater Providence region.

5 comments

  • We really have to start implementing policies that are hostile to motor vehicles. Here’s one for which the technology exists, and is being used in other parts of the world:

    Permit travel INTO downtown. Make people PAY to come into the city core. At the same time provide inexpensive lots on the perimeter and shuttle service that runs from very early to very late from the lots into the core.

  • Do we really not have any pedestrian safety policy or is it simply not being implemented? This has always driven (no pun intended) nuts.

  • Cones or plastic Jersey barriers with a little asphalt to make a transition from the curb to the street would solve this. Even when the Dean and Atwells repair work was going on, RIDOT eventually got around to setting out cones to establish a walk area in the street separating pedestrians from vehicles. How about emailing the city and the developer to let them know that it would be in their interest to provide a safety zone for pedestrians so no one gets hurt. Other than that, it’s great that they’ve begun!

  • When the Federal Hill Arch was repaired there were Jersey Barriers in the roadway creating a space for pedestrians. In New York, they sometimes detour pedestrians into buildings that are under construction/renovation to keep pedestrian traffic moving, which is a little extreme, but sometimes kind of cool.

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