R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-1 (2026)

Duty of town to maintain highways

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) All highways, causeways, and bridges, except as provided by this chapter, lying and being within the bounds of any town, shall be kept in repair and amended, from time to time, so that the highways, causeways, and bridges may be safe and convenient for travelers with their teams, carts, and carriages at all seasons of the year, at the proper charge and expense of the town, under the care and direction of the town council of the town, provided that the state shall be responsible for the annual cleaning of all sidewalks on all state highways, causeways, and bridges.

(b) In addition, the surfaces of all highways and causeways shall be maintained in such a state of repair as to make them safe for bicycles.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases, 1958–2012 · leading case: Tedesco v. Connors, 871 A.2d 920 (R.I. 2005).
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Tedesco v. Connors, 871 A.2d 920 (R.I. 2005). · cites it 6× “The trial justice did not address defendant’s argument that the local municipalities, rather than the state, owe a duty to make roadways safe for bicycles pursuant to G.L.1956 § 24-5-1. The plaintiff appeals, asserting that the trial justice erred in his holding that the…”
O'REILLY v. Town of Glocester, 621 A.2d 697 (R.I. 1993). · cites it 5× “1956 (1989 Reenactment) § 24-5-1. Glocester focuses on the precise language found in the modern version of this 1822 “act for the Mending of Highways and Bridges” in arguing that the town has no duty to maintain the driftway.”
Pullen v. State, 707 A.2d 686 (R.I. 1998). · cites it 8× “The state also filed a motion for summary judgment, alleging that pursuant to G.L.1956 § 24-5-1 the city, not the state, has a statutory obligation to maintain all sidewalks found within its borders.”
D'allesandro v. Tarro, 842 A.2d 1063 (R.I. 2004). · cites it 2× “We note that G.L.1956 § 24-5-1 provides that a town has a duty to keep “[a]ll highways * * * safe and convenient for travelers.”
Barroso v. Pepin, 261 A.2d 277 (R.I. 1970). · cites it 6× ““Section 24-5-1 imposes upon municipalities the obligation to repair and amend their highways 'so that the same may be safe and convenient for travelers with their teams, carts and carriages at all seasons of the year It is settled that the statutory obligation thus imposed…”
O'Gara v. Ferrante, 690 A.2d 1354 (R.I. 1997). · cites it 5× “The trial justice denied the motion, ruling that G.L.1956 §§ 24-5-1, 45-15-8, and 31-1-23 placed a duty upon the town to *1357 maintain highways, including the shoulders of a roadway.”
DiCenzo v. Ruscetta, 510 A.2d 417 (R.I. 1986). · cites it 9× “However, we need only consider two issues: (1) whether the city owed a duty to DiCenzo with respect to the condition of the private way and (2) the question of what effect, if any, posting a “Not a Through Street” sign instead of a “Not a Public Way” sign had on the city’s…”
Prout v. City of Providence, 996 A.2d 1139 (R.I. 2010). · cites it 3× “Analysis Because the cause of action arises from the city’s statutory duty to maintain its highways, the issue in this case stems from the requirements provided by G.L.1956 § 24-5-1. 1 The General Assembly has *1142 provided that an injured person may recover for injury or…”
Karczmarczyk v. Quinn, 200 A.2d 461 (R.I. 1964). · cites it 4× “It further argues that plaintiff’s injury resulted from its failure to keep the highway safe for travel under the obligation imposed upon it by the provisions of §24-5-1 and therefore only the statutory remedy provided in §§45-15-8 and 45-15-9 is available to her.”
Sullivan v. Town of Coventry, 707 A.2d 257 (R.I. 1998). · cites it 2× “After the docketing of this appeal we ruled that G.L.1956 §§ 24-5-1, 31-1-23, and 45-15-8 do place a duty upon a town to maintain vegetation located within the boundary lines of a highway.”
Yankee v. LeBlanc, 819 A.2d 1277 (R.I. 2003). · cites it 2× “Moreover, as we explained in O’Gara , G.L.1956 § 24-5-1, G.L.1956 § 31-1-23, and G.”
In Re Pursuant to § 39-1-30 of Ordinance Adopted by City of Providence, 745 A.2d 769 (R.I. 2000). · cites it 3× “290 (currently codified as G.L.1956 § 24-5-1). The statute has remained unchanged in all material aspects, save for the substitution, by 1896, of “the town council of the town” for the surveyors, who had been appointed by the town councils.”
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