The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that effective today, Thursday, January 21, a weight limit for trucks will be in place on the Broad Street Bridge in Pawtucket. The change also impacts the nearby Barton Street Bridge, as both structures share common supporting elements where they span Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Providence & Worcester Railroad freight line.
An inspection of the Broad Street Bridge in late December found significant steel deterioration, which, upon further analysis of the structure's load carrying capacity, resulted in a need to set a weight limit on the bridge. The limits will be set at 10 tons for two axle vehicles, 16 tons for three axle vehicles and 18 tons for four axle vehicles. The same limits will be set for the Barton Street Bridge.
Detour routes for trucks will be established for both the Broad Street and Barton Street Bridges. The detours are as follows:
Broad Street Bridge
Northbound: • Head west on Goff Avenue • Turn right onto Dexter Street • Turn right onto Clay Street • Return to Broad Street
Southbound: • Turn right onto Cross Street • Turn left onto Dexter Street • Turn left onto Goff Avenue • Turn left to return to Broad Street
Barton Street Bridge
Eastbound: • Turn left onto Dexter Street • Turn right onto Clay Street • Turn right onto Montgomery Street • Return to Barton Street
Westbound: • Turn left onto Montgomery Street • Turn right onto Exchange Street • Continue onto Goff Avenue • Turn right onto Dexter Street • Return to Barton Street
Detour maps with turn-by-turn directions can be found online at www.dot.ri.gov/detourmaps.
RIDOT will make repairs to both bridges to address steel deterioration as part of a statewide bridge repair contract set to be advertised in late summer with work beginning in early 2017. Given the findings of the recent inspection and need to set a weight limit, RIDOT will work to expedite the project. The estimated cost of the repairs is approximately $645,000.
Contact: Charles St. Martin (401) 222-1362, Ext. 4007