AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- SIDEWALKS

SB 57 requires the state, not local towns, to handle all maintenance of sidewalks along state highways - such as repairs, cleaning, and replacing damaged sections - with the exception of snow and ice removal. This bill amends two sections of the state’s General Laws (24-7-8 and 24-8-6) to explicitly assign this responsibility to the state’s transportation director. It directly affects state highway authorities and eliminates prior ambiguity about who maintains sidewalks adjacent to state roads. The law takes effect upon passage and does not change existing requirements for sidewalk construction approval.