Phase 2 of the relocation project, which connected the freeway with Route 4, was completed one year ahead of schedule in December 2008.

Prior to 2006, Route 403 was a narrow, two-lane road running for 2.4 miles (3.9 km) through Davisville, Rhode Island.

Shortly after its western terminus, Route 403 crossed the Hunt River into Washington County and Davisville, a village in the town of North Kingstown.

[4] The route crossed Amtrak's Northeast Corridor rail line before turning to head in an almost due east direction, entering the Quonset Business Park.

[6] Route 403 continues in a southeastern direction before crossing over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor rail line.

The freeway begins to closely parallel the railroad before crossing under Devil's Foot Road, the original Route 403, and entering the village of Davisville.

[1] The two-lane, undivided state highway was the main access road to Davisville and Quonset Point from Route 4.

After the closure of the base, the Quonset Point region of North Kingstown was converted into an industrial zone and commercial district by the state of Rhode Island; a container port and the Quonset State Airport were also opened for commercial use.

[2] By the 1980s, more than 12,000 cars were using Route 403 daily to access the business park; the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) estimated that this vehicle volume would exceed 25,000 by 2005.

[2] This high vehicle capacity would be dangerous because of Route 403's sharp curves and low speed limit in Davisville.

[8] Construction of "Phase 1" of the four-lane, limited-access Quonset Freeway began in 2000 with excavation of the route and right-of-way acquisition; the project required the demolition of 13 structures, five commercial and eight residential.

Phase 1 included an extension of the highway into the Quonset Business Park and the construction of several overpasses in Quonset, an exit ramp to Gate Road, a full interchange with U.S. Route 1 in North Kingstown, and a partial diamond interchange with West Davisville Road in Davisville.

All major construction on the freeway was completed in December 2008, one year ahead of schedule; minor projects continued on the relocated route until early 2009.