The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced that it is postponing by one day the next phase of work associated with preventive maintenance on Providence area Interstate bridges. As preparations were underway for traffic pattern changes scheduled for tonight, RIDOT decided additional time is needed to fabricate and install signage to guide motorists safely through the work zone.
This work requires a divided highway configuration to be established on both direction of I-195 in Providence, between the I-95 interchange and the Gano Street exits. During this work, all lanes of travel will be maintained during daytime and peak travel periods. Motorists will encounter a lane split with three lanes to the left and one to the right of the split. It is important to note that all lanes are through traffic lanes that continue onto I-195.
With the postponement, the traffic pattern will be in effect for I-195 East by Friday morning, May 12. The next day, Saturday, May 13, the new traffic pattern will be in effect for I-195 West
Drivers should proceed with caution through the work zone without stopping. The temporary traffic patterns on I-195 East will result in some restrictions for traffic seeking to take Exit 2 (India Street). Drivers traveling from I-95 North to I-195 East must use the far right lane for that exit. Those driving from I-95 South to I-195 East will not have access to Exit 2 during this stage of the project. A signed detour will be established using Exit 5 to reverse direction to I-195 West, then to Exit 3 (Gano Street).
Each step of this 5-stage process will take approximately two to three weeks, with RIDOT replacing bridge joints across all lanes of travel and implementing new traffic patterns for each stage.
The anticipated schedule for each stage of the I-195 bridge joint work is as follows:
- Stage 2. (Mid-May - Late-May): A divided highway with three lanes to the left and one lane to the right.
- Stage 3. (Late-May - Mid-June): A divided highway with two lanes to the left and two lanes to the right.
- Stage 4. (Early June - Mid June): A divided highway with one lane to the left and three lanes to the right.
- Stage 5. (Mid-June - Late June): All lanes shift to the right and the left shoulder will be closed in both directions.
In late June following the conclusion of the work on I-195, RIDOT will repair bridge joints on the Clifford Street Bridge. This structure, which spans I-95 between West Franklin Street and East Franklin Street, will be closed on weekends over a one month period. Overnight closures of the nearby ramp from Point Street to I-95 North also are possible.
The final location for bridge maintenance is the ramp from I-195 West to I-95 South. This two-lane ramp will be restricted to one lane over two weekend closure periods later in the summer.
The entire $3.2 million Providence Area Bridges Project is on time and on budget, and is scheduled for final completion by the end of 2017.
The Providence Area Bridges Project is made possible by RhodeWorks, RIDOT's ongoing commitment to repair structurally deficient bridges and bring Rhode Island's transportation infrastructure into a state of good repair, promote economic development, and create jobs. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.
All dates and times are weather-dependent and subject to change. Visit www.dot.ri.gov or follow RIDOTnews on Facebook or Twitter for timely information on construction projects and traffic conditions.
