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| Route 116 (Rhode Island) | |
|---|---|
| State | RI |
| Type | RI |
| Route | 116 |
| Length mi | 28.0 |
| Established | 1923 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Providence |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Cumberland |
| Counties | Providence County |
Route 116 (Rhode Island) is a state highway in Rhode Island running north–south through Providence County from Providence to Cumberland. The route connects urban centers, suburban communities, and historic districts while intersecting several major highways used by commuters traveling to Interstate 95, Interstate 295, and U.S. Route 1. It serves as a local arterial through neighborhoods associated with Brown University, Roger Williams Park, and industrial sites near Blackstone River.
Route 116 begins in Providence near Kennedy Plaza and proceeds northwest along city streets adjacent to landmarks such as Brown University, RISD Museum, and the Providence Performing Arts Center. Leaving the central business district it passes through residential and commercial corridors near Olneyville and Smith Hill, then crosses under ramps connecting to U.S. Route 6 and I-95. Northbound, the highway traverses the industrial and historic mill villages of Pawtucket and Central Falls, skirting the Blackstone River and former mills associated with the Industrial Revolution in New England. The alignment continues into suburban Lincoln and Smithfield, passing municipal buildings, schools, and parks near Lincoln Woods State Park and skirting the western reaches of Woonsocket before terminating in Cumberland close to the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor.
Along its course Route 116 intersects multiple state and federal roadways including U.S. 1, Route 146, Route 126, and provides access to regional transit hubs used by Rhode Island Public Transit Authority buses serving Providence Station.
The corridor that became Route 116 developed during the 19th century as a connector between industrial centers associated with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and port facilities at Providence. Road improvements in the early 20th century were influenced by transportation planning initiatives connected to the rise of U.S. Routes and the expansion of state highway networks following guidelines from the American Association of State Highway Officials. Route 116 was formally designated in the 1920s amid statewide renumbering, paralleling economic growth tied to manufacturers such as those documented in histories of Slater Mill and other mills in Pawtucket.
Mid-20th century roadway projects, including those related to I-95 and I-295, necessitated realignments and interchange construction affecting Route 116, with federal funding guided by statutes like the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Urban renewal programs in Providence and suburbanization trends after World War II reshaped travel patterns along the route. Recent decades have seen rehabilitation projects coordinated with agencies such as the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and community preservation efforts linked to the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
The highway intersects a series of principal corridors and municipal nodes: - Southern terminus at downtown Providence near Kennedy Plaza and U.S. 1. - Connections to U.S. 6 and ramps serving I-95 near Olneyville. - Junctions with Route 10 approaches and local arterials serving Federal Hill and Smith Hill. - Crossings in Pawtucket near Slater Mill and interchanges with Route 146 and Route 126. - Intersections serving Central Falls and Lincoln, providing access to Lincoln Woods State Park. - Northern terminus in Cumberland near connections to Route 121 and proximity to the Blackstone River corridor.
Route 116 interacts with several numbered highways and historic alignments that shape regional mobility. Nearby state routes include Route 15, Route 117, Route 12, and Route 104, while federal corridors such as U.S. 1 and U.S. 6 provide longer-distance connectivity. The route also relates to corridors managed by Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority and infrastructure tied to Amtrak and MBTA regional services at Providence Station and park-and-ride facilities used by Rhode Island Public Transit Authority.
Traffic volumes on Route 116 vary from dense urban flows in Providence and Pawtucket to moderate suburban counts in Lincoln and Smithfield. Maintenance responsibilities rest with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for state-owned segments and with municipal agencies for local stretches passing through downtowns such as Central Falls and Cumberland. Pavement rehabilitation, signal modernization, and bridge upkeep near crossings of the Blackstone River have been coordinated with federal funding programs under statutes related to the Federal Highway Administration and involve contractors certified by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Planning documents from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and regional planning bodies like the Greater Providence Metropolitan Planning Organization identify capacity upgrades, safety improvements, and multimodal investments for corridors including Route 116. Proposals emphasize intersection reconfiguration near busy nodes, sidewalk and bicycle facility additions to link with trails in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, and bridge replacements to meet standards promoted by the Federal Highway Administration. Community stakeholders including municipal governments, preservation organizations associated with Slater Mill and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, and transit agencies such as the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority participate in outreach for phased improvements tied to state capital programs and federal grant opportunities.
Category:State highways in Rhode Island