Blackstone River Bikeway

right|thumb|400px|The Blackstone River Bikeway in October 2006, approximately one mile south of the Martin St. Bridge

The Blackstone River Bikeway is a planned paved rail trail defining the course of the East Coast Greenway through the Blackstone Valley from Worcester, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island.

Approximately of the trail has been completed in Rhode Island, connecting the communities of Woonsocket, Lincoln, Cumberland and Manville. of completed trail in Massachusetts connect Worcester and Millbury.

The path follows follows the right-of-way of the old Providence and Worcester Railroad and its predecessor, the Blackstone Canal, running alongside the Blackstone River. Once constructed, the bikeway will be linked to the East Bay Bike Path, for an additional of trail to Bristol, Rhode Island. The Blackstone River Bikeway is also a designated section of the East Coast Greenway, the 2900-mile trail system connecting cities from Maine to Florida.

History

In 1985, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (known after 1999 as the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor) was designated by the United States Congress, following the path of the Blackstone River from Providence to Worcester.

Rhode Island

In 1997, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Department of Transportation began work on the first Rhode Island segment, from Lincoln to Ashton. This segment was completed in 1998. A second Rhode...
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