Known as the Huntington Expressway, Rhode Island 10 encircles Providence on a five-mile freeway between Interstate 95 at Cranston and Interstate 95 by Providence Place. The freeway was first proposed as an Interstate highway, but later built by the Rhode Island Department of Public Works initially between Union and Harris Avenues in 1953 and from Union Avenue south to Rhode Island 2 (Reservoir Avenue) by 1960. The extension southward to Rhode Island 12 in Cranston followed in 1966, which led to the creation of Rhode Island 10 as a state route.1
Work shifted to the north end and in 1972 the Huntington Expressway was extended from Harris Street to Dean Street. Studies then focused on the link with Interstate 95, which was not settled upon until 1984 with work commencing between 1985 and 1988. Ramps to Memorial Boulevard from the interchange with I-95 and U.S. 6 were the last elements of Rhode Island 10 to open when they did in 1993.1
Rhode Island 10 north
The ramp from Rhode Island 12 (Park Avenue) east curves underneath the form the northbound beginning of Rhode Island 10. A grassy area remains from the path of the original southbound R.I. 10 ramp to eastbound R.I. 12 alongside the northbound lane. Sometime between 1995 and 2002, the directional ramp was shifted from that of an off-ramp to Park Avenue east to that of the on-ramp from Park Avenue east. First photo taken 07/28/07. Second photo taken 07/28/07.
Drivers see the first northbound shield of Rhode Island 10 as the Huntington Expressway curves westward from the periphery of Roger Williams Park toward the Cranston city line. Photo taken 07/28/07.
A partial-cloverleaf interchange joins Rhode Island 10 with U.S. 1 north along Elmwood Avenue. U.S. 1 leads north to Elmwood within the city of Providence. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Rhode Island 10 elevates above AMTRAK railroad tracks and quickly reaches the northbound on-ramp to Interstate 95 and downtown Providence. Photo taken 07/28/07.
A loop ramp follows onto Interstate 95 southbound with the control city of nearby Warwick. Rhode Island 10 continues 0.75 miles to meet Rhode Island 12 (Reservoir Avenue) in Cranston. Photo taken 07/28/07.
U.S. 6 east & Rhode Island 10 north
Attached to the Tobey Street southbound flyover to Rhode Island 10 are guide signs for Dean Street/Atwells Avenue partial-cloverleaf interchange and the junction with Interstate 95. Photo taken 06/25/05.
Atwells Avenue passes over the U.S. 6 & Rhode Island 10 freeway ahead of the Dean Street exit. Atwells Avenue splits from Manton Avenue in Dyerville en route to downtown Providence. The surface boulevard ends at U.S. 1 (Sabin Street) adjacent to the Dunkin Donuts Center. Photo taken 06/25/05.
Eastbound at the Dean Street off-ramp on U.S. 6 & Rhode Island 10. The freeway prepares to split into three ramps: Interstate 95 north to Boston, Interstate 95 south to New York & Interstate 195 east to Fall River, and Memorial Boulevard east to U.S. 1, U.S. 44, and downtown Providence. Photo taken 06/25/05.
The Memorial Boulevard eastbound off-ramp departs U.S. 6 east & Rhode Island 10 north. Memorial Boulevard spurs east from the directional interchange between the two freeways to junction U.S. 1 (Francis Street) and junction U.S. 44 (Canal and Steeple Streets). Memorial Boulevard follows the downtown waterfront to Dyer Street. Photo taken 06/25/05.
The massive Providence Place mall rises in the background as the Rhode Island 10 freeway partitions into ramps for Interstate 95 north and Interstate 95 south & U.S. 6 east. Interstate 95 northbound next splits with the Rhode Island 146 freeway (Exit 23) for interests to Boston or Worcester, Massachusetts. Photo taken 06/25/05.
Rhode Island 10 south
Posted within the directional-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 95 is a guide sign directing drivers bound for Roger Williams Park and Zoo onto the forthcoming off-ramp to U.S. 1 (Elmwood Avenue). The Zoo lies east of U.S. 1 and south of Interstate 95 nearby. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Rhode Island 10 spans an AMTRAK railroad line and splits with the Elmwood Avenue off-ramp to U.S. 1. One half mile of freeway otherwise winds southward to Rhode Island 12 (Park Avenue). Photo taken 07/28/07.
An Interstate 95 trailblazer resides at ramp end with U.S. 1 (Elmwood Avenue). U.S. 1 travels eight blocks south to Park Avenue near the community of Auburn. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Curving southward along side Roger Williams Park, Rhode Island 10 prepares to meet Rhode Island 12. Originally there were separate ramps for Park Avenue west and eastbound, but those movements were consolidated between 1995 and 2002 into a single ramp. Photo taken 07/28/07.
1,000 feet north of the Huntington Expressway end at Rhode Island 12. A 1959 highway plan included a southward extension of the freeway six miles utilizing the corridor of Rhode Island 117 (Warwick Avenue) and Oakland Beach Avenue (Rhode Island 117A). Work was slated to begin in 1965, but the project never broke ground.1 Photo taken 07/28/07.
A sign bridge partitions the ending Rhode Island 10 into turn lanes for Rhode Island 12 (Park Avenue). Rhode Island 12 constitutes a 17.1-mile overall route between R.I. 102 at Rockland and Broad Street in Cranston. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Traffic shifts from the freeway mainline onto the exit ramp for Park Avenue. A grassy area remains from the former direct ramp to Rhode Island 12 east that was removed and replaced with a direct ramp from Park Avenue east to Rhode Island 10 north. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Rhode Island 10 draws to a close at the signalized ramp end with Rhode Island 12. Park Avenue ventures west to the Cranston city center and east to Roger Williams Park and Edgewood. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Scenes pertaining to Rhode Island 10
Leaving the interchange with Rhode Island 10 (Huntington Expressway), drivers along Park Avenue west see a reassurance marker for Rhode Island 12 posted ahead of the traffic light at U.S. 1 (Elmwood Avenue). Photo taken 07/28/07.
Rhode Island 12 (Park Avenue) travels two blocks from U.S. 1 (Elmwood Avenue) to the northbound on-ramp for Rhode Island 10 (Huntington Expressway). Photo taken 07/28/07.
Rhode Island 10 arcs northwest three quarters of a mile from Park Avenue to meet Interstate 95 in south Providence. Photo taken 07/28/07.
U.S. 1 shield assembly posted along Elmwood Avenue between the Rhode Island 10 off-ramp at McKinley Street and the loop ramp onto the Huntington Expressway northbound. Photo taken 07/28/07.
Rhode Island 10 (Huntington Expressway) immediately interchanges with Interstate 95 west of U.S. 1. The state route freeway continues northwest from there to the Olneyville section of Providence where it joins U.S. 6 east. Photo taken 07/28/07.
