WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island cities and towns will soon receive yet another financial boost to improve and repair roads that may otherwise be overlooked.

Gov. Dan McKee announced an additional $7 million in state funding through his “ RhodeRestore ” program. That funding will be divided evenly among the state’s 39 cities and towns. Each municipality can receive up to $184,000 by submitting project applications.

The $7 million will also be matched at a ratio of 33% ratio state funds to 67% local funds, according to McKee.

“RhodeRestore has created an opportunity for municipalities to add $1 of state money to every $2 they put toward improved infrastructure projects in their community,” McKee explained.

McKee made the announcement at the Gamm Theatre on Jefferson Boulevard, which is the longest municipal road in Warwick. RhodeRestore helped the city repave the roadway from I-95 to Main Avenue.

“It’s enabled us to stretch our paving dollar much further,” Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi said. “We’re now able to do larger projects.”

Nearly 130 applications have been approved and more than 100 are currently under review. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will be approving new applications on a rolling basis.

“Most people don’t know that 80% of all the roads in Rhode Island are not maintained by RIDOT, but by our cities and towns,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti said. “I thank the governor for making it a priority to address the condition of our local roads.”

McKee said the RhodeRestore program, which was introduced in Fiscal Year 2024, has already yielded $74 million in improvements to hundreds of projects across the state.

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