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| US 1 (Rhode Island) | |
|---|---|
| State | RI |
| Type | US |
| Length mi | 17.0 |
| Established | 1926 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Westerly |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Providence |
| Counties | Washington County; Kent County; Providence County |
US 1 (Rhode Island) US 1 in Rhode Island is a 17.0-mile section of the United States Numbered Highway System running from Westerly on the Connecticut border northeast to Providence. The route links coastal communities such as Wakefield, Narragansett, and Kingston with urban centers including Warwick and Cranston. US 1 parallels the I-95 corridor and intersects several state and federal routes, serving as an arterial for commerce, tourism, and local traffic.
US 1 enters Rhode Island from Stonington and immediately passes through Westerly before skirting the shoreline near Misquamicut and Watch Hill, areas known for links to Ocean State. Continuing northeast, the highway crosses into South Kingstown near Charlestown and serves the villages of Wakefield and Peace Dale, where it intersects Rhode Island Route 1A and Rhode Island Route 2. The alignment proceeds past Narragansett Pier and near Point Judith before turning inland toward Kingston and the University of Rhode Island campus. North of South Kingstown, US 1 parallels I-95 and crosses into Exeter and West Warwick, intersecting Rhode Island Route 138 and Rhode Island Route 3. In Warwick the highway becomes a commercial corridor near T.F. Green Airport and connects with US 1 Business and I-295 spurs. Approaching Cranston and Providence, US 1 merges with urban arterials, crosses the Pawtuxet River and terminates near downtown Providence, close to Kennedy Plaza and the Rhode Island State House.
The corridor of US 1 follows historic paths traced by colonial thoroughfares linked to King's Highway and 19th-century turnpikes such as the Post Road. The designation of US 1 in 1926 aligned the route with other sections stretching to Boston and New York City. During the 1930s and 1940s, expansion projects were coordinated with agencies including the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and influenced by federal programs like the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921 and later the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Postwar suburbanization around Warwick and Cranston led to commercial development along US 1, echoing trends seen in Route 66 corridors and prompting bypass studies similar to those for US 1 in New Jersey. Environmental and coastal preservation efforts near Narragansett Bay and Block Island Sound affected alignment choices, reflecting precedents from Cape Cod National Seashore planning. Recent rehabilitation projects have involved coordination with Amtrak for nearby railroad crossings, the Federal Highway Administration for funding, and local municipalities including South Kingstown, Warwick, and Providence to manage traffic flow and historic preservation near landmarks like the Kingston Village Historic District.
US 1 intersects several principal routes and facilities: - At the Connecticut state line near Westerly — connection to I-95 and US 1 (Connecticut). - Intersection with Rhode Island Route 78 and Rhode Island Route 3 near Wakefield and Peace Dale. - Junction with Rhode Island Route 108 and access roads to Point Judith Ferry serving Block Island. - Crossing with Rhode Island Route 138 near Kingston providing links to Newport and Jamestown. - Interchanges with I-95 and I-295 in the Warwick region, including proximity to T.F. Green Airport. - Connections with Rhode Island Route 2 and US 1 Business in Cranston and approaches to Providence near Broad Street and Point Street.
Traffic volumes on US 1 vary seasonally, increasing during summer tourism peaks associated with Narragansett Pier and Misquamicut State Beach and commuter peaks for Providence metropolitan workers. Crash data reviewed by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration highlight congestion points near commercial strips in Warwick and intersection safety concerns at junctions with Route 138 and Route 3. Safety improvements have included traffic signal modernization influenced by National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act principles, pedestrian enhancements near the University of Rhode Island, and streetscape projects coordinated with the National Park Service where historic districts are adjacent to the corridor. Freight movement strategies reference guidance from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to balance truck access and local safety.
Several related designations and spurs connect to US 1 in Rhode Island: - US 1 Business provides an alternate through central commercial districts. - Rhode Island Route 1A runs as a coastal alternate through villages and beaches near Narragansett and South Kingstown. - Historic alignments correspond to earlier turnpikes and sections of the Post Road, preserved in districts like Kingston Village Historic District. - Multimodal links include nearby MBTA-branded service areas in regional planning and ferry connections at Point Judith to Block Island.
Category:U.S. Highways in Rhode Island