Picture of the Day-Sunset Over the Road to Quonset

Sunset Over the Road to Quonset

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Today’s picture of the day is of Sunset over the road to Quonset Point. This road to Quonset Point was recently completed, and now allows people to get in and out of Quonset much more quickly. Although, some more work does still remain, the redirection of route 403 is mostly complete, and has its own exit (exit 7B) off of the highway (route 4) now. Being that Rhode Island has very few hills and few points of high elevation, there are very few high vantage points in the North Kingstown. Sadly this overpass is probably one of the highest vantage points in North Kingstown. In fact the highest elevation in entire state of Rhode Island is Jerimoth Hill in Foster, which is a whole 812 feet above sea level. I think this sad fact would be more forgivable if Rhode Island was not so close to Mt. Washington, the highest point in Northeast, and bordered by Connecticut and Massachusetts, which can both claim mountains for their high points.

On my way home yesterday I noticed the vantage of sunset looked quite nice from this overpass, so I stopped near devil’s foot, and walked down the sidewalk of route 1. I saw the sunset, which was nice, but then suddenly as the sun when down below the horizon this pink lining, which you see here appeared in the sky. I knew the sunset was shaping up nicely by the strange lighting I saw in the sky, but the pink lining that appeared in the sky was quite unexpected.

Quonset Point the former home of the Seabees, and the place from which Quonset huts get their name, sat in disrepair for many years prior to the recent revitalization; which has turned it into an quickly expanding industrial park that has seen much grow in recent years. Also, there was talk of creating a megaport in Quonset a few years ago. Although, the talk has now subsided in the face of much opposition, I suspect once they have fully finished the 403 highway relocation and the Freight Rail Improvement Project project talk will likely pick up again. The project is very near completion now, and the governor even lead a ceremony and parade down route 403 a few week ago this year on October 22, to celebrate completion of the major portion. So far the talk of there has not been any renewed interest in the megaport, that I am aware of, but I still wonder if it may start back up gradually or be worked into Quonset in a smaller phase plan.

Also, Quonset is probably one of the only places, which currently has a runway long enough (not ideal, but still long enough) to land 747s. It has a runway of 7,504 feet just a bit longer than the main runway at TF Green Airport, Rhode Island largest and busiest airport, which only has a runway of 7,166. In fact President Bush landed in Quonset when he visited Rhode Island with in his 747-200B (thats right he only visited the state once in his 8 years). Of course they desperately want to lengthen the runway at TF Green, but have been unable to because it would mean tearing up a bunch of homes and businesses.

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Tags: Davisville, highway, industrial park, pink, quonset, quonset point, road, sunset