R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-10
The town or city, after electing by the town or city council to make the improvements as provided in § 24-3-9, shall become seized of all the land in the report mentioned that shall be required for making the improvements, in trust for use as a public highway. And the town or city may, by the person and at such time as the town council or city council shall order, take possession of the land or any part thereof, without any process of law, and remove all buildings and other impediments as the town council or city council shall order and direct; provided, that the owner of the land shall have the right, within thirty (30) days after the town or city council shall have elected to make the improvements, or within such further time as the town council or city council may grant, to remove all crops, trees, buildings or other improvements thereon, for his or her own use and benefit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-10