Washington Secondary Rail Trail
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2014) |
The Washington Secondary Rail Trail (also known as the Washington Secondary Bike Path) is a rail trail located in Rhode Island.
The trail measures 19 miles (31 km) [1] and has sections that are paved and unpaved. It runs along an abandoned rail corridor of the former Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad.
The trail serves the communities of Coventry, West Warwick, Warwick, and Cranston. It combines, from west to east, the Trestle Trail, Trestle Trail East, Coventry Greenway, West Warwick Greenway, Warwick Greenway, and Cranston Bike Path.
Long-term plans envision the Washington Secondary Rail Trail connecting with the Blackstone River Bikeway, the East Bay Bike Path, and the Moosup Valley State Park Trail in Connecticut.[2] The Washington Secondary Rail Trail is a designated section of the East Coast Greenway.
Coventry section[]
- Coventry
- distance 9.1 miles (14.6 km)
The Washington Secondary Bike Path starts near the Summit General Store on Log Bridge Road at the south/western paved end of the Coventry segment. West of this point, the trail is known as the Trestle Trail to the Connecticut state line. The pavement continues for 9.1 miles (14.6 km) northeast until the town line with West Warwick. Over the duration of the 4.0 paved miles, the Coventry greenway passes alongside the Flat River Reservoir, Knotty Oak Cemetery, the Merrill S. Whipple Conservation Area, and the upper branch of the Pawtuxet river over 4 bridges (3 water, 1 road, 1 of them a truss design). The path follows the direction of RI 117.
In 2014, the original Coventry Greenway section was rehabilitated, and the 4.8 miles (7.7 km) Trestle Trail East section was added, extending the western end by almost five miles. Connecting the last section to the Connecticut border (and connection to the Moosup Valley State Park Trail) is planned, which would bring the total length of the path to 24.0 miles (38.6 km).[3]
Trestle Trail crossings (unpaved)[]
| Crossing | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
 CT/ RI State
Border |
Continuing on | 41°41′44″N 71°47′19″W / 41.6956°N 71.7886°W |
| Lewis Farm Rd. | 41°41′25″N 71°45′41″W / 41.6902°N 71.7615°W | |
 Route 117
|
41°41′23″N 71°44′49″W / 41.6896°N 71.7470°W | |
| Unpaved Trail Ends | 41°41′26″N 71°42′00″W / 41.6906°N 71.7001°W |
Paved crossings[]
West Warwick section[]
- West Warwick
- distance 2.7 miles (4.3 km)
The West Warwick Greenway segment is fully paved, from the Coventry section to the Warwick leg. The right of way passes by the commercial district of Arctic. Along the trail are two mills, one commercial/industry and one residential (Royal Mills, Ace Dying Mill complex). Bradford Soap Works straddles the greenway not far after.
Crossings[]
| Crossings | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry/West Warwick
town border |
end of West
Warwick segment of trail |
41°41′43″N 71°31′59″W / 41.6953°N 71.5330°W |
| Brookside Ave. | 41°42′04″N 71°31′28″W / 41.7010°N 71.5245°W | |
| Main St. | underpass | 41°42′07″N 71°31′24″W / 41.7020°N 71.5234°W |
 Route 33
|
41°42′29″N 71°31′18″W / 41.7081°N 71.5217°W | |
 Route 115
|
overpass | 41°42′50″N 71°31′12″W / 41.7138°N 71.5201°W |
| Hay St. | 41°42′56″N 71°30′54″W / 41.7155°N 71.5150°W | |
| Pawtuxet River | river crossing | 41°42′54″N 71°30′43″W / 41.7150°N 71.5119°W |
| Private Dr. | 41°42′49″N 71°30′27″W / 41.7136°N 71.5074°W | |
| West Warwick/Warwick
town border |
end of West
Warwick segment of trail |
41°42′42″N 71°30′01″W / 41.7118°N 71.5002°W |
Warwick section[]
- Warwick
- distance 1.57 miles (2.53 km)
The Warwick Greenway provides an almost direct connection to Bald Hill road and the Malls; (RI and Warwick). Another truss bridge is on the path nearby the West Warwick sewer treatment facility (the township line is nearby the greenway).
Crossings[]
| Crossings | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| West Warwick/Warwick
town border |
end of Warwick
segment of trail |
41°42′42″N 71°30′01″W / 41.7118°N 71.5002°W |
| Route 33
|
41°42′42″N 71°30′01″W / 41.7118°N 71.5002°W | |
| East Ave. | 41°43′14″N 71°29′14″W / 41.7206°N 71.4873°W | |
| Pawtuxet River | river crossing | 41°43′33″N 71°29′08″W / 41.7259°N 71.4856°W |
 I-295
|
underpass | 41°43′44″N 71°29′05″W / 41.7289°N 71.4847°W |
| W. Natick Rd. | 41°43′44″N 71°29′05″W / 41.7289°N 71.4847°W | |
| Warwick/Cranston
town border |
end of Warwick
segment of trail |
41°43′55″N 71°29′02″W / 41.7319°N 71.4838°W |
Cranston section[]
- Cranston
- distance 5.88 miles (9.46 km)
The Cranston Bike Path is the longest paved section, the greenway passes through Oaklawn, Knightsville and the Gladstone sections of Cranston. The northern terminus at the moment ends at the northern end of Garfield avenue, at the Cranston Police department. The right of way, accessible almost up to the tracks continues north for .33 miles until it merges with Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.
Crossings[]
See also[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Washington Secondary Rail Trail. |
- Blackstone River Bikeway
- East Bay Bike Path
- Greenways Alliance of Rhode Island
References[]
- ^ "Washington Secondary Bike Path - Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation". www.dot.ri.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
- ^ "Moosup Valley State Park Trail | Connecticut Trails | TrailLink.com". www.traillink.com. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
- ^ "Washington Secondary Bike Path - Rhode Island Rhode Island Department of Transportation". www.dot.ri.gov. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
External links[]
- "Washington Secondary Bike Path". TrailLink. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- Coventry, Rhode Island
- Cranston, Rhode Island
- Rail trails in Rhode Island
- East Coast Greenway
- Warwick, Rhode Island
- West Warwick, Rhode Island