The Southern Stretch: Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation & Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management have made great progress with a 10.3mile off-road segment already open to the public.

The Kelly House Museum, located along the bikeway in Lincoln, RI focuses on transportation history.

The completed segment begins in Manville, RI and heads south through the towns of Cumberland, Lincoln, and Central Falls, RI. Another 1.5 miles on the northern end of this section should be completed by Summer 2009.

In Ashton, RI, the Bikeway follows the route of the Blackstone Canal for three miles, mostly on top of the historic towpath. While at Ashton, visit the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Museum, a newly opened museum and visitor center adjacent to the Bikeway that offers free tours. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management manages the Rhode Island segments which have already become a popular recreation destination.

Interim on-road routes stretch north to Woonsocket, RI, home of the Museum of Work and Culture, and south to Providence, RI. While in Pawtucket, RI visit the Slater Mill, the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. From here, one can follow city streets into Providence to make a connection with the popular East Bay Bikepath that travels 14.5 miles along Narragansett Bay to the historic waterfront community of Bristol, RI.

Map: Southern Stretch Overview - This link will take you to a larger map with still more detailed inserts (best viewed at 1024x768 or 800x600 resolution).

For the latest information on the Rhode island portion of the bikeway, go to www.dot.state.ri.us/bikeri or www.vhb.com.

Blackstone River Bikeway Patrol formed in Summer 2008. For information, go to: www.blackstonebkewaypatrol.org.