The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that by the end of the day it will be lowering the posted weight limit for travel on the Ten Mile River Bridges (Nos. 478 and 479), which carry North Broadway over the Ten Mile River in East Providence. The bridges were posted at 7 tons in January 2008. Results of a recent bridge inspection have prompted the Department to lower the weight limit to 3 tons.
The Ten Mile River Bridges are approximately 50 years old and in need of rehabilitation. RIDOT is preparing to advertise for bids for reconstruction in late summer with work expected to begin Spring 2012. RIDOT will be using pre-cast concrete beams to accelerate the project, but the bridges will be closed for up to two years once construction begins.
"The Department apologizes for the inconvenience the lower weight limit may cause," RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. "We will work diligently to complete the rehabilitation and remove the weight limit entirely."
The lower weight limit restricts traffic to mostly passenger vehicles. Trucks and other heavy vehicles will need to follow the posted detour. The detour routes are also posted on RIDOT's website at www.dot.ri.gov/travelri/detourmaps.asp. The detours are as follows:
North Broadway Northbound: Turn left onto Roger Williams Avenue and follow to Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue.) Turn right and follow to Newman Avenue. Turn right onto Newman Avenue, which becomes North Broadway.
North Broadway Southbound: From Newman Avenue (which becomes North Broadway), turn left onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue). Follow to Route 44 (Taunton Avenue) and take a right. Turn right onto North Broadway.
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.
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Contact: Heidi Gudmundson (401) 222-1362 x. 4009