$6.2 million Municipal Road & Bridge Fund loan to finance accessibility and historic preservation improvements along Benefit Street.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, the state’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners, has closed on a $6,200,000 Municipal Road & Bridge Fund loan to the City of Providence to complete the Mile of History Sidewalk Restoration Project. The project will restore approximately one mile of sidewalks along historic Benefit Street, known as the “Mile of History,” to improve safety and accessibility while preserving the area’s unique historic character.
The $6.2 million loan will finance the restoration and upgrade of the concrete and brick sidewalks characteristic of Benefit Street. Key project components include the installation of new tree wells designed to mitigate future root damage to sidewalks and ensure long-term ADA accessibility. Benefit Street is home to one of the highest concentrations of colonial architecture in the United States and serves as a cultural and tourism driver for the city and state.
“Benefit Street is one of Rhode Island’s most iconic thoroughfares, and maintaining its public infrastructure is essential to ensuring it remains an accessible destination for residents and visitors alike,”
“Benefit Street is one of Providence’s most beloved historical spaces and this investment allows our city to preserve its character while making improvements to its safety and accessibility,”
“The Mile of History Association preserves and protects historic Benefit Street ‘for the benefit of all’ Rhode Islanders,”
“In collaboration with the administration and my Council colleagues, I was proud and honored to lead the legislation to help secure a $6.2 million investment in Providence’s iconic Mile of History,”
“Benefit Street is full of cultural and historic significance. Tourism is also critical to the economy of Providence, and that tourism is deeply tied to the architecture and history of the city that is so well-represented on Benefit Street. We want people to keep visiting and coming back, as well as for local visitors from across the city and state,”