Delays anticipated as RIDOT continues work to remove long-standing dip
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced the schedule for the final weekend closure associated with a bridge repair project that will address a long-standing dip that has annoyed motorists for several years, located near the hospital campus after Exit 1B to Eddy Street in Providence.
Heavy traffic and long delays are possible for the weekend of November 17-20, when RIDOT is scheduled to close one of two lanes on the ramp that carries traffic from I-195 West to I-95 South. The left lane on the ramp is set to close at 7 p.m. on Friday night, November 17 and remain closed through the weekend, reopening by 5 a.m. on Monday, November 20.
A similar weekend closure took place in October to address the right side of the ramp. During that operation, traffic delays were observed between the peak travel times from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, resulting in delays in excess of 20 minutes at times. The Department is anticipating heavy traffic again with the next weekend closure, and motorists should provide themselves extra travel time and consider alternate routes.
The ramp closure is needed for the entire weekend to provide RIDOT enough time to complete all the work associated with the repair and to replace a bridge joint and expansion joint. A significant period of time - minimum of 12 hours - is necessary to allow newly placed concrete to cure. During that window of time while the concrete hardens and reaches its full strength, most likely on Sunday, motorists may see limited if any activity in terms of machinery and workers. The lane will remain closed until all activities are final.
The work is part of the $3.2 million Providence Area Bridges Project, underway since mid-April, which is on time and on budget. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2017. This preventative maintenance project addressed three areas of the Iway.