The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced that it will open a new off-ramp from I-195 West to Eddy Street, close to the R.I. hospitals complex in Providence, on Monday, October 3, 2011.
The ramp, designated as Exit 1B, is the final highway ramp to be opened as part of the Iway project. It will provide a more direct and safer connection with the hospitals area. Prior to the Iway, motorists traveling to the hospitals area from the East Bay or southeastern Massachusetts had to merge across four lanes of traffic on I-95 in a very short distance to reach the former Exit 19 to Eddy Street.
"Driving on the old I-195 and trying to reach the hospitals area from the east was very challenging," RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. "Eliminating that weave and providing a safer, direct connection to the State's largest medical center were paramount goals of the Iway project."
In the past year, changes have been made to traffic patterns in the hospitals complex in advance of the ramp opening. In particular, Willard Avenue from Eddy Street to Plain Street is now a one-way road heading west. Changing Willard Avenue to a one-way traffic pattern heading away from Eddy Street will ease congestion in this area and avoid traffic conflicts with off-ramp traffic.
Maps showing routes to the hospitals area from all directions can be found on RIDOT's website at www.dot.ri.gov.
Motorists with questions can contact RIDOT's Customer Service office at 401-222-2450 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional information may be available on RIDOT's social media sites on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogger.
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362 x4007