The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced the scheduled closure of the Atwells Avenue Bridge, which carries Atwells Avenue over the Woonasquatucket River in Providence, will begin on Monday, January 5, 2015. The structure will be closed for approximately one year to rehabilitate the bridge.
While this work is taking place, signed detours will be in effect. Drivers heading westbound on Atwells Avenue will use Eagle Street and Valley Street, while eastbound traffic will follow Valley Street, Delaine Street and Harris Avenue. Additionally, a short section of Harris Avenue, from 321 Harris Avenue (the Capitol Records building) to Eagle Street, will be closed to westbound traffic. Two-way traffic will be maintained from Sims Avenue to 321 Harris Avenue, as will access for all local businesses. Motorists heading west on Harris Avenue past 321 Harris Avenue will need to follow a detour using Sims Street and Kinsley Avenue to reach Eagle Street and Valley Street.
Detour maps are available at www.dot.ri.gov/detourmaps.
Pedestrian access and driveway entries to the Eagle Square shopping plaza will be maintained throughout the life of the project. During construction, the bus stop located on Atwells Avenue at the bridge in front of Price Rite will be temporarily relocated to Valley Street, across from Newark Street. See www.ripta.com for more information as it becomes available.
The work is part of a $2.5 million project with the John Rocchio Corp. to replace the top portion of the bridge, which was damaged during the floods of 2010. By closing the bridge completely, RIDOT will complete the project in about half the time it would take if one lane of travel were left open.
For more information, visit us online at www.dot.ri.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RIDOTNews. For real-time traffic updates, subscribe to our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/RIDOTNews.
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Contact: Rose Amoros (O):401-222-1362 x4450 (C):401-261-2159 Rose.Amoros@dot.ri.gov
