Newport City Council will consider a resolution at its Oct. 23 meeting to approve changes to Admiral Kalbfus Road, including new bike lanes and truck restrictions.
The resolution follows an Oct. 2 workshop where residents voiced concerns about traffic safety on the busy thoroughfare.
Newport City Council mulls traffic changes on Admiral Kalbfus Road
The proposed changes would restripe Admiral Kalbfus to create 10-foot travel lanes and 5-foot bike lanes with a buffer. This would allow the city to request weight restrictions on trucks over a certain size from the State Traffic Commission.
“If you narrow those lanes, which are currently 11 feet by just 1 foot, it would spark a review by the state Traffic Commission, which would in turn result in a weight restriction on Admiral Kalbfus Boulevard, excluding trucks that are class seven and up,” City Manager Colin Kennedy explained at the Oct. 2 workshop.
The resolution, if passed, would direct city administration to formally notify RIDOT of Newport’s support for the restriping plan and accompanying weight restrictions.
The resolution also calls for City administration to work with Newport Public Schools to provide an additional crossing guard at Admiral Kalbfus and Sagamore Street until permanent traffic calming measures are implemented.
The council is expected to vote on the resolution at its Oct. 23 meeting. Councilors Angela Lima, Xay Khamsyvorabong, Mark Aramli, Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, and Lynn Underwood Ceglie have signed on to the resolution.
