R.I. Gen. Laws § 43-3-17: “Rhode Island highway system” defined.

Wherever the words “state highway system”, “state highways”, “state roads”, or any other words referring to public roads occur in any general law, public law, act, or resolution of the general assembly, they shall be defined as found in chapter 8 of title 24, unless the context of the law, act, or resolution requires a different construction as may be deemed necessary by the director of transportation.