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Route 108 (Rhode Island)
Encyclopedia
Route 108 is state route in Narragansett
and South Kingstown
. The route stretches for 8.6 miles (13.8 kilometres), beginning at Ocean Road in Point Judith
to Route 138
in Kingston
. The road intersects with US 1
in Wakefield
. Major attractions along Route 108 include Point Judith Light
, Harbour Island and the University of Rhode Island
(just east of the northern terminus).
In 1934, Route 108 was switched onto its current route from its original one, which stretched from Providence
to Woonsocket
.
. Route 108 heads westward as Point Judith Road, turning to the north shortly after starting. Route 108 passes the village of Galilee
as it continues, passing local roads and the Point Judith Country Club. Route 108 enters downtown Narragansett and intersects with Route 1A
and U.S. Route 1 at a roundabout at 4.3 miles (6.9 kilometres).
Route 108 then enters the town of South Kingstown
and passes the Indian Run Reservoir. After weaving and twisting around Wakefield and Peace Dale, Route 108 comes to an end at Route 138 in Kingston.
and Route 146A
from Providence
to Woonsocket
, then along Park Avenue to end at Route 122
. The current Route 108 south of Wakefield was unnumbered at the time. North of Wakefield, current Route 108 was part of 1920s Route 107
Until the summer of 2004, Route 108 turned off Kingstown Road (the State-maintained route) in Peace Dale, following Kersey Road and North Road and bypassing the Peace Dale Rotary. However, most maps showed Route 108 staying on Kingstown Road. However, new signage was installed in 2004 that puts Route 108 on Kingstown Road through Peace Dale. The routing on Kersey and North Roads may have been done to avoid low clearances where the Narragansett Pier Railroad
used to cross over Kingstown Road twice. Those overpasses have been torn down, and a bike path now crosses Route 108 twice within a quarter mile.
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Narragansett is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 15,868 at the 2010 census, but there is a greater population in the summer. The nickname for the town is "Gansett". The town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land running along the eastern bank...
and South Kingstown
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
South Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 30,639 at the 2010 census.South Kingstown includes the villages of Kingston, West Kingston, Wakefield, Peace Dale, Snug Harbor, Tuckertown, East Matunuck, Matunuck, Green Hill, and Perryville. Peace...
. The route stretches for 8.6 miles (13.8 kilometres), beginning at Ocean Road in Point Judith
Point Judith
Point Judith is a village and a small cape, on the coast of Narragansett, Rhode Island, on the western side of Narragansett Bay where it opens out onto Rhode Island Sound....
to Route 138
Rhode Island Route 138
Route 138 is a numbered State Highway running in Rhode Island. It runs from the Connecticut state line to the Massachusetts state line and is the only state-numbered route that traverses the entire state.-Route description:...
in Kingston
Kingston, Rhode Island
Kingston is a village and a census-designated place in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States, and the site of the main campus of the University of Rhode Island. Much of the village center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Kingston Village Historic...
. The road intersects with US 1
U.S. Route 1 in Rhode Island
In the U.S. state of Rhode Island, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway through Providence. Staying close to the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay, it is a longer route than Interstate 95, and many portions are a four-lane divided highway....
in Wakefield
Wakefield, Rhode Island
Wakefield is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and the commercial center of the town. Together with the village of Peace Dale, it is treated by the U.S. Census as a component of the census designated place identified as Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island. South Kingston was...
. Major attractions along Route 108 include Point Judith Light
Point Judith Light
The Point Judith Light is located on the west side of the entrance to Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island as well as the north side of the eastern entrance to Block Island Sound. The confluence of two waterways make this area busy with water traffic and the waters around Point Judith are very cold and...
, Harbour Island and the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
(just east of the northern terminus).
In 1934, Route 108 was switched onto its current route from its original one, which stretched from Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to Woonsocket
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
.
Route description
Route 108 begins just north of Point Judith Light at Ocean Road in the town of NarragansettNarragansett, Rhode Island
Narragansett is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 15,868 at the 2010 census, but there is a greater population in the summer. The nickname for the town is "Gansett". The town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land running along the eastern bank...
. Route 108 heads westward as Point Judith Road, turning to the north shortly after starting. Route 108 passes the village of Galilee
Galilee, Rhode Island
Galilee is a fishing village within the town of Narragansett, Rhode Island on Point Judith. It is across the harbor from Jerusalem, Rhode Island...
as it continues, passing local roads and the Point Judith Country Club. Route 108 enters downtown Narragansett and intersects with Route 1A
Route 1A (Rhode Island)
Route 1A is a numbered state highway in Rhode Island, running in five sections.-Route:Route 1A follows U.S. 1 closely through South County. It can be separated into five sections:...
and U.S. Route 1 at a roundabout at 4.3 miles (6.9 kilometres).
Route 108 then enters the town of South Kingstown
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
South Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 30,639 at the 2010 census.South Kingstown includes the villages of Kingston, West Kingston, Wakefield, Peace Dale, Snug Harbor, Tuckertown, East Matunuck, Matunuck, Green Hill, and Perryville. Peace...
and passes the Indian Run Reservoir. After weaving and twisting around Wakefield and Peace Dale, Route 108 comes to an end at Route 138 in Kingston.
History
Before 1934, Route 108 followed present-day Route 246Route 246 (Rhode Island)
-Route:Route 246 takes the following route through the State:*Providence: ; U.S. Route 1 to North Providence town line**Mill Street, Charles Street, [Charles Street] and Charles Street...
and Route 146A
Route 146A (Rhode Island)
-Route:Route 146A takes the following route through the State:*North Smithfield: ; Route 146 to Massachusetts State line at Route 146A**Eddie Dowling Highway, Smithfield Road, Great Road, Victory Highway, North Main Street and Quaker Highway-History:...
from Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to Woonsocket
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
, then along Park Avenue to end at Route 122
Route 122 (Rhode Island)
-Route:Route 122 takes the following route through the State:*Pawtucket: ; U.S. 1 to Central Falls city line**Main Street and Lonsdale Avenue*Central Falls: ; Pawtucket city line to Lincoln town line**Lonsdale Avenue...
. The current Route 108 south of Wakefield was unnumbered at the time. North of Wakefield, current Route 108 was part of 1920s Route 107
Until the summer of 2004, Route 108 turned off Kingstown Road (the State-maintained route) in Peace Dale, following Kersey Road and North Road and bypassing the Peace Dale Rotary. However, most maps showed Route 108 staying on Kingstown Road. However, new signage was installed in 2004 that puts Route 108 on Kingstown Road through Peace Dale. The routing on Kersey and North Roads may have been done to avoid low clearances where the Narragansett Pier Railroad
Narragansett Pier Railroad
The Narragansett Pier Railroad was a Class III railroad operating in Rhode Island from 1876 until 1981.- History :The Narragansett Pier Railroad was chartered in January 1868 and opened on July 17, 1876, between Kingston, Rhode Island and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island.Trolleys were operated over...
used to cross over Kingstown Road twice. Those overpasses have been torn down, and a bike path now crosses Route 108 twice within a quarter mile.