R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-7: Special appropriations for particular projects.

Whenever any town shall make, in addition to its annual appropriation for the maintenance and repair of its highways and bridges, a special appropriation for the building or repair of any particular highway or bridge or other highway work, and shall not provide that the appropriation be expended by contract, the town council of the town shall determine whether the appropriation shall be so expended; and if not expended by contract, it shall be expended by the surveyor of highways of the district within which the work is to be done.