R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-22

Whenever any highway has been or shall be laid out over any tract or parcel of land used at the time of the laying out as a highway, the laying out shall not be deemed or construed to affect or in any way alter the rights or duties of the town, or any individual, as to the maintenance of bridges over any part of the new highway, which so nearly coincides with the old highway as not to require the removal of the bridges or the building of them in a different place from where they previously stood.