The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is scheduled to reduce the number of travel lanes on the Orms Street Bridge in Providence, from Park Street to Douglas Avenue, from four lanes to two lanes beginning on Sunday, September 18, 2011, at approximately 8 p.m. RIDOT will maintain one lane of travel in each direction on the bridge over I-95 at all times.
RIDOT will begin demolition and reconstruction of the southern half of the 47-year-old bridge next week. By reducing the number of travel lanes and shifting them to the north, the Department can replace the bridge without closing it. With the new lane configuration, motorists may encounter delays, particularly during the afternoon rush hour.
The two-lane configuration will remain in place until Spring 2012. At that time, RIDOT will shift the two-lane configuration onto the new section of the Orms Street Bridge and then demolish and replace the northern half of the structure. The original four-lane traffic pattern will be re-established in Spring 2013. The northern end of Park Street where it meets Orms Street will remain closed until the end of the project in Summer 2013.
In the coming weeks, motorists can expect overnight lane closures on I-95 North and South. During this work, RIDOT also may temporarily close Exit 23 (State Offices) overnight but will keep at least one lane of travel open on the ramp to Route 146. Motorists who normally use the State Office exit should follow a detour using Route 146 North to the Branch Avenue exit, turning right onto Branch Avenue, right onto Charles Street and right to return to Orms Street. RIDOT's Travel Advisories website, www.tmc.dot.ri.gov/traveladvisories, will have detailed information about scheduled lane closures.
The Orms Street Bridge Safety Improvement Project began in early August. It involves full bridge deck replacement and rehabilitation of the remaining structure, installation of new fencing, installation of new roadway joints, sidewalk replacement, and preparing and repainting existing structural steel.
Through a $4.6 million contract with Cardi Corporation, the project also includes roadway improvements to Orms Street, such as resurfacing, resetting of granite curb, installation of signing and pavement markings, and the installation of video detection equipment at the traffic signals. This equipment will replace the current loop detectors and will help to better manage traffic flow.
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362 x4007