The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced today it will close the Stillwater Viaduct in Smithfield on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. RIDOT must close the bridge to complete a rehabilitation project for the 80-year-old structure, which carries Route 116 (George Washington Highway) over the Stillwater Reservoir.
Through a $9.4 million contract with Northern Construction Services, RIDOT will be completely replacing the superstructure, making sub-structure repairs and making minor concrete repairs to the bridge's arches. The replacement structure will be the same width as the existing bridge, with sidewalks on both sides.
To complete this project as quickly as possible, the Department is making use of pre-cast components wherever possible. RIDOT anticipates reopening this bridge by the end of 2012.
RIDOT will establish a detour route using Route 104 (Farnum Pike) and Route 7 (Douglas Pike). A map showing the detour is available at www.dot.ri.gov/travelri/detourmaps.asp.
Those 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 will be available on RIDOT's social media sites on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogger.
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Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362, Ext. 4007
