The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today welcomed Danish Transport Minister Henrik Dam Kristensen, who is visiting Rhode Island to learn more about the successes of the Iway (I-195 Relocation Project).
The meeting included information on how the Department designed, funded and built the Iway. Rhode Island officials also accompanied Minister Kristensen on a tour of the project. Minister Kristensen is responsible for leading the Ministry of Transport and its diverse set of responsibilities for Denmark including roads, vehicles, railways, fixed links, harbors, ferry operations, coastal protection, aviation, airports and postal services. The organization employs approximately 40,000 people.
"This was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and best practices used on this complex project," RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. "It is very rewarding when other transportation agencies, especially one from another country, look to Rhode Island as a leader and travel here to learn first-hand how we do business."
The $623 million project is Rhode Island's largest transportation project since the construction of the Interstate System. Most of the new highway and bridge elements were completed in late 2009, and many new ramps and changes to city streets were completed in 2010. The entire old I-195 corridor was demolished in 2011. RIDOT expects to begin new contracts later this year for reconstruction of city streets bisected by the old highway, and future contracts will address the development of parks, landscaping and a pedestrian bridge on the footings of the original Providence River Bridge.
Minister Kristensen's visit to the United States included meeting with U.S. DOT officials and members of Congress in Washington D.C., with plans to visit with transportation officials in Montreal, Canada after his time in Rhode Island.
Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362, Ext. 4007