The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will be temporarily closing portions of I-95 in Pawtucket during the overnight hours. Work will begin Sunday, June 12, 2011 in order to dismantle the bridge beams from the George Street Bridge over I-95. RIDOT is replacing the George Street Bridge as part of the Pawtucket River Bridge Replacement Project.
“To ensure the safety of motorists as well as our construction crews, we need to close I-95 while we perform this operation,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis. “We appreciate the continued patience of the motoring public as we work to complete this project.”
Through an $81 million contract with S&R Corporation/Pihl., Inc., RIDOT will replace the Pawtucket River Bridge. The project is scheduled for completion in Summer 2013. RIDOT anticipates that all traffic will be shifted to the new structure by Summer 2012, eliminating the bridge’s current 18-ton weight restriction. All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.
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.
The scheduled closure of I-95 South and I-95 North in Pawtucket is as follows:
Sunday, June 12, between midnight and 4 a.m. • I-95 South between Exit 29 (US 1/Broadway, Cottage Street, Downtown Pawtucket) and Exit 27 (George Street, Cedar Street, McCoy Stadium, Downtown Pawtucket, North Providence), will be closed.
Monday, June 13, between midnight and 4 a.m. • I-95 North, between Exit 27 (George Street, Cedar Street, McCoy Stadium, Downtown Pawtucket, North Providence) and Exit 28 (RI Route 114/School Street, Slater Mill, McCoy Stadium, Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket), will be closed.
The current truck detour will not be affected. The car detour is as follows:
I-95 Southbound Detour:
Take Exit 27; Go straight on Cedar Street; Take a left onto I-95 Southbound.
I-95 Northbound Detour:
Take Exit 27; Go straight on Marrin Street; (Marrin Street becomes Grace Street); (Grace Street becomes Division Street); Left on School Street; Right on Vernon Street on-ramp to I-95 Northbound.
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Contact: Heidi Gudmundson (401) 222-1362 x. 4009
