Motorists on I-195 West will encounter another change related to the Iway project as the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) prepares to relocate an off-ramp to the East Side of Providence.
On Friday night, June 4, RIDOT will begin a weekend-long operation to relocate the ramp for Exit 2 (South Main Street) from I-195 West. The ramp’s entrance and exit point will be changing, and for the first time there will be a traffic signal at the end of the ramp.
In order to complete the work necessary to relocate the ramp, RIDOT will close Exit 2 for the entire weekend. The ramp will be reopened before the morning commute on Monday, June 7. Motorists seeking access to the East Side of Providence should use Exit 3 (Gano Street) or Exit 1A (Point Street) during this time.
Exit 2 currently carries motorists on a bridge over Wickenden Street and then merges into South Main Street. The new off ramp will meet Wickenden Street at a traffic signal. The new intersection will feature three lanes, and allow access to Wickenden Street, Point Street and South Main Street in the following manner:
• Left lane is for left turns onto Point Street. Motorists also can proceed straight onto South Main Street. • Center lane allows through traffic onto South Main Street only. • Right lane allows right turns onto Wickenden Street only and provides access to Benefit Street.
RIDOT in March upgraded the traffic signals on Wickenden Street in advance of this change. The area will remain under construction with further improvements set for the intersection and its sidewalks to take place in 2011. In the next few weeks, RIDOT will announce periodic weekend closures of the new Exit 2 to allow for utility relocation work. These closures will be announced in advance and again Exits 3 and 1A will be used as alternate exits to reach the East Side of Providence from I-195 West.
Additional Iway changes scheduled for later this year include new on- and off-ramps in the Point Street and R.I. hospitals area. RIDOT also expects to begin demolition of the old I-195 highway this year.
Motorists with questions can contact RIDOT’s Customer Service office at 401-222-2450 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional information will be available on RIDOT’s website (www.dot.ri.gov) and its social media sites on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogger.
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362 x4007