Grant funding used to preserve coastal beauty, increase accessibly along Bristol byway

BRISTOL, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island leaders said federal funding is making Bristol’s Hope Street safer for pedestrians while keeping its coastal charm.

Gov. Dan McKee joined Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and other officials at the Herreshoff Marine Museum on Wednesday to discuss the progress.

A $750,000 federal National Scenic Byway grant was awarded in April with the intention to protect the view along the byway and improve sidewalks and ADA accessibility.

The Revolutionary Heritage Byway is a six-mile road that goes through town, Route 114, and High Street, parallel to Bristol Harbor.

Peter Alviti, director of the state Department of Transportation, said the funding covers improvements for two long stretches of Hope Street, through a lot of the historic town.

“We’ll make sure we have good sidewalks all the way down Ferry Road to Metacom Avenue to support pedestrians going back and forth to Roger Williams University,” Alviti said.

Hope Street is home to the annual Fourth of July parade, which has earned the town the title of “America’s most patriotic town.”

“We know that Bristol is a special place for Rhode Islanders, it represents the fabric of our entire country,” Alviti said.