container and autoracks, thus allowing a heavy freight rail connection to most of the United States. The Iway project, a major relocation of Interstate 195 (Rhode Island-Massachusetts), was designed and construction began during the Almond administration. Casinos and lottery Almond was a strong opponent to the expansion of gambling in the state during his eight years as governor, despite the growth of two major casinos in nearby southeastern Connecticut. He successfully fought every attempt to bring casino gambling into Rhode Island, and repeatedly urged the Rhode Island Lottery Commission not to expand video lottery terminals at existing gaming establishments in the state. Environmental policy In the realm of environmental issues, as a result of the 1996 North Cape barge oil spill, Almond negotiated a safe dredging plan for Narragansett Bay with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dredging project was important to allow direct delivery of petroleum products by ship to the ports of Providence and Fall River instead of barges that pose greater environmental risk. He also came to an agreement with the Narragansett Bay Commission on a funding plan and project scope for a major project to collect and store storm water runoff in the Providence area for storage and treatment before release into Narragansett Bay. However, Almond generated controversy in the fall of 2001 due to his refusal to declare a state of emergency when the town of Pascoag's water was contaminated with MTBE. Later work After leaving office, Almond was appointed in 2005 by Governor Donald Carcieri to lead an investigation of practices in the Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, a workers compensation insurer created by the State of Rhode Island in 1994. The highly critical report led to substantial changes of leadership and practices within the company. In 2006, the Rhode Island General Assembly approved a voter referendum to allow Harrah's Entertainment to operate a casino in partnership with the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Almond led a coalition of opponents to the proposal, and despite heavy advertising expenditures by Harrah's, the proposal was defeated. Personal life and death Lincoln Almond and his wife Marilyn lived in Kingston, Rhode Island and Wellfleet, Massachusetts. They had two children. Their son, Lincoln Douglas Almond, became a federal magistrate judge in Rhode Island. Almond died on January 2, 2023, at the age of 86. Electoral history 1994 Race for Governor – Republican Primary Lincoln Almond (R), 58% Ron Machtley (R),