Johnston officials build temporary road for Belfield Drive residents

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Work is underway on a temporary road connecting flooded-out Belfield Drive in Johnston to Interstate 295 after weeks of pleading from residents.

While most of Rhode Island moves on from the damage from December’s massive storms, one small community in Johnston has been stuck in the aftermath, begging their local government for a way to get back to their normal lives.

“What is my other way out? I need a helicopter,” said Tania Nova, a resident of Belfield Drive. “I need something that is going to lift me up from here to go anywhere.”

Nova is one of the residents who stayed behind after a mandatory evacuation order was issued by the town Friday.

“I’m from Guatemala,” Nova said “And, honestly, I feel like I’m [now] in a third-world country.”

“I never went through this in Guatemala,” Nova continued. “Things were done quickly, and they were fixed. Now we’re waiting.”

Nova has lived on Belfield Drive with her daughter since 2008, anticipating a solution to the flooding concerns. 

“We’ve been waiting since 2010, on and off,” Nova added. “This is the fifth time, and it just doesn’t happen.”

While the town is working on a temporary road to help residents out, Nova says they still feel like they’re stuck in the dark.

“Unfortunately, when we call, nobody responds,” she said. “We don’t get answers…we’re just watching the news to see what they’re saying.”

“Now, I’ve heard that the mayor says he’s willing to do the buyout,” Nova continued. “And we’re willing to take it if there’s a fair market.”

With a $500,000 price tag on the current work and temporary roadway, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. says there is no other option for residents.

“I’ll use eminent domain to take it,” said Polisena. “Because we can’t do this again. I can’t spend half a million dollars for one neighborhood.”

“We have other major flooding problems in the town that need to be addressed as well,” Polisena added. “You can’t put a price on safety, but, when the water subsides, they’re going to have to sell their house.”

The mayor made it clear the road is a one-time option with the federal government.

The temporary road will be up until Jan. 26, or until the waters recede. It will only be usable twice a day, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and strictly for first responders and emergency vehicles.

“How are we going to do our normal life? Right now, our employers are letting us work from home,” Nova said. “But I don’t know how long that’s going to take.”

“It’s just…very weird? I just can’t believe this is happening,” Nova concluded.

Polisena says the road should be finished by Thursday morning.

Officials in Johnston have also announced a disaster center is set up for those seeking relief from a September storm and say they’re working on getting FEMA assistance for the December storm as well.