SCENIC 1A signs; the 'R.I. SCENIC 1A' is unique to this sign
Route 1A follows U.S. Route 1 (US 1) closely through Washington County. US 1 is a divided highway for most of its length in this region; there is also a short freeway section in South Kingstown and Narragansett. Because Interstate 95 largely bypasses the main population centers in the southern portion of the state, instead following a more inland routing, US 1 serves as the main thoroughfare. Route 1A, in comparison, runs on surface streets, acting as an alternate route for US 1 that provides access to more local roads and business districts. There are four distinct sections, each separated segments of US 1.
Westerly section
The first section of Route 1A is 8.1 miles (13.0 km) in length and runs entirely in Westerly.[1][2] Beginning in downtown Westerly, the roadway takes a more southerly route for its first 3.7 miles (6.0 km) in the town, serving the affluent coastal community of Watch Hill and Misquamicut State Beach. The roadway begins as Main Street, which diverges from US 1 (Broad Street) just after the latter route crosses the Pawcatuck River from Stonington, Connecticut. Route 1A north continues southward on Beach Street before turning south onto Watch Hill Road. The roadway then turns to the southeast along Shore Road, which runs parallel to Misquamicut Beach, Atlantic Beach and Winnapaug Pond, until Shore Road meets Post Road not far from the Charlestown town line.[2][1]
Charlestown and South Kingstown sections
The second segment of Route 1A begins 4.1 miles (6.6 km) north of where the first section ends.[3] This segment is 1.4 miles (2 km) in length, begins shortly after Post Road passes Ninigret Pond in Charlestown.[1] The roadway follows Old Post Road in Charlestown past Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge before merging back with the northbound lanes of US 1 / Post Road.[4]
The third section of Route 1A begins just 0.07 miles (0.11 km) north of where the second section ends, with the connection made by way of US 1 north.[5] This section runs for a total of 5.4 miles (8.7 km), though the southernmost 3.2 miles (5.1 km) are separated from rest due to a closed median at US 1. This section follows Old Post Road through Charlestown village and into South Kingstown before re-merging with US 1. This segment serves as a beach bypass, providing access to Charlestown Breachway State Beach, Charlestown Town Beach and Green Hill Beach. This segment also provides access to Route 110, before terminating at US 1 again, this time at the southbound lanes.[1][6]
South Kingstown to North Kingstown section
RI 1A Scenic northbound proceeding away from RI 108 in Narragansett
After traveling north for 2.7 miles (4.3 km) on US 1, the fourth section of Route 1A begins, again following Post Road.[7] This section, like the previous one, is split into two by way of a closed median interchange. The portion below this closed interchange is only 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and barely more than a residential road.[1] It parallels US 1 as a former alignment of the Boston Post Road before reaching the closed interchange. After crossing US 1 via a median u-turn, Route 1A continues north for 16.5 miles (26.6 km), this time taking a more distant course from US 1. This segment runs for 17.2 miles (27.7 km) and serves as a major commercial corridor for the towns of South Kinsgtown, Narragansett, and North Kingstown.[1]
Route 1A runs north and east along Post Road and Main Street into the village of Wakefield, a major commercial center of South Kingstown. Just after exiting downtown Wakefield, the road intersects with Route 108, beginning a 0.7-mile (1.1 km) wrong-way concurrency: Route 1A north and Route 108 south run in a southeasterly direction along Kingstown Road. After entering the town of Narragansett, the concurrent routes partially intersect US 1 at a grade-separated interchange. Just south of the US 1 overpass, Route 108 south and Route 1A north both enter the Dillon (Narragansett) Rotary. Route 108 exits to the south, heading towards the villages of Galilee and Point Judith, while Route 1A exits to the east, heading towards the village of Narragansett Pier.[1]
The 4.4-mile (7.1 km) portion of Route 1A in Wakefield between US 1 and the Dillon Rotary is not actually signed as part of Route 1A on most maps;[8] however, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has posted reassurance markers on Post Road, Main Street and Kingstown Road though Wakefield, and the register of state highways indicates that this routing is officially part of Route 1A.[6][1]
In Narragansett, Route 1A follows Kingstown Road and Narragansett Avenue. When the highway reaches the village of Narragansett Pier, it turns due north onto Beach Street and passes Narragansett Town Beach just north of The Towers. The mainline of Beach Street becomes Boston Neck Road just north of the village center and crosses the Pettaquamscutt River (also known as Narrow River) via the Sprague Bridge. Route 1A serves as a major commercial corridor in northern Narragansett, and also provides access to the village of Bonnet Shores. It then crosses into the Saunderstown neighborhood of North Kingstown, interchanging with Rhode Island Route 138 just west of the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge. Route 1A heads north for another 3.3 miles (5.3 km) before crossing a branch of Wickford Cove via the Hussey Bridge, entering the village of Wickford. Route 1A turns north onto Brown Street, intersecting with the southern terminus of Route 102. The roadway then turns to the west onto West Main Street before terminating at US 1 just northwest of the main Wickford business district.[9][10][1]
History
At various points in time, every segment of Route 1A except the one in Westerly served as part of U.S. 1, which historically was the lower routing of the Boston Post Roadmail route. The Route 1A designation came after the U.S. 1 designation was moved to a different alignment. This led to most segments of Route 1A being named Old Post Road or Post Road, while much of US 1 is now named the Commodore Perry Highway.
Before that, Route 1A existed on an alignment that is now roughly Route 3.
The 19.0-mile (30.6 km) segment from old U.S. 1 in downtown Wakefield to current US 1 near Wickford, now most of the fourth section, was once Route 1B. It was renumbered to Route 1A by 1934.
US 1 in Westerly
