The Department of Transportation was established in 1970 by statutory authority RIGL§42-13-1. This department replaced the Department of Public Works created by Chapter 5 § 38 of the 1938 General Laws and repealed by Chapter 111 § 1 of the Public Laws of 1970.
The Department of Transportation is responsible for the implementation of both short and long-term transportation improvements for the State of Rhode Island. Included in this effort is the maintenance of over 1,300 miles of roadways, 750 bridges and over 800 traffic signalization systems. The Department is also responsible for maintaining a continuing comprehensive transportation program by coordinating and performing planning functions for all modes of transportation.
The mission of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is to provide a safe, efficient, effective, environmentally, aesthetically and culturally sensitive intermodal transportation network that offers a variety of convenient, cost-effective mobility opportunities for people and the movement of goods supporting economic development and improved quality of life.
No special restrictions unless otherwise specified.
Copyright is in the public domain unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to restrict reproduction of materials due to preservation concerns.
Department of Transportation State Photolog Highway films, 2001-17, Rhode Island State Archives.
The Department of Transportation State Photolog Highway films include two (2) sets of 35mm color films* on 400 ft. metal reels numbered 1 - 86. One set of films [Set A] has already been used and the other is unused [Set B]. Also includes two copies of the finding aid generated by Goodell-Grivas; B/W photographs of photolog pictures taken at the junction of Routes 14 and 102 in West Greenwich and 1 color photograph of Kingstown Road (Route 108); 35mm Projector “Stop Motion Analyzer”; Neumade splicer with tape; Operator’s manual for 35mm projector; Report entitled “Guidelines for Developing Highway Information Systems Using Photologs” by Goodell-Grivas Inc., Consulting Engineers (Southfield, Michigan), prepared for RIDOT September 1981; Five (5) reels of B filter prints of Reels 79, 80, 81, 82, and 86 on plastic cores in metal cans (metal cans are tin coated raw stock film cans); Grid System Footage on plastic microfilm reel; unidentified film on plastic microfilm reel; 2 films on metal reels - RI Photolog W.I.N. Hearing, March 28, 1984 (internegative and original work print); one unidentified film on metal reel (possibly W.I.N. Hearing user copy). * Kodak safety film manufactured in Rochester, New York in 1981
The Department of Transportation State Photolog Highway films are arranged into the following series:
Films created by Goodell-Grivas Inc under contract with RIDOT. Films were previously in the custody of the Division of Planning. Custody was transferred to the Division of Traffic Engineering after reorganization in 1988.
Preservation Note: Films were stored in a metal cabinet for approximately 20 years and accessed as needed by RIDOT staff. The set of unused reels were stored in plastic bags sealed with masking tape also in the same cabinet. When the cabinet was opened, vinegar smell was evident. Vinegar Syndrome was also evident from the reels in the plastic bags as they were opened and subsequently removed from the bags. All films were allowed to air out approximately 1-½ months on a table but were covered from direct sunlight. Color shift and fading is evident on the films.
Vinegar Syndrome (VS) was tested on a sample of films from each set. [Set A] showed slight degradation measuring .5 (Fair to good) as strip turned somewhat blue-green from bright blue. [Set B] also measured .5 though color was greener (see appendix). Films will be tested again in November 2001 and every year thereafter.
No additional accruals are anticipated at this time.
Transferred from Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Engineering, Paul McEnanly, Room 366, 2 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02903 on March 5, 2001.
State Traffic Commission meeting minutes, 1997-124
Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority photographs, 2001-35
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Division of Tourism videotapes, 2002-23
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Division of Tourism photographs, 1996-14
Hussey Collection Bridge plans and drawings, 1998-146
Department of Administration Division of Accounts and Control State Highway Program fiscal records, 1999-93
A photolog film is a film of sequential images of the highway and its environs taken at equal increments of distance from a moving vehicle at driver’s eye level. The film documents such information as number of lanes, surface type, pavement markings, signs and hazards. It provides a permanent record or history of any one state highway at a given time. Additional information is included in the frame of the image, such as date, route description, direction and milepoint. All state roads were filmed in both directions.