The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is reminding motorists that tonight it will conduct a temporary weekend closure of Route 146 in North Smithfield. Both Route 146 North and South are scheduled to close at 10 p.m. Friday, March 2. All lanes will be restored by 10 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, March 3. The highway will reopen in segments, beginning with one lane on Route 146 North on Saturday morning.
The closure is needed for the safe demolition of the structurally deficient Woonsocket Hill Road Bridge, which spans Route 146 between the Route 104/Downtown Woonsocket exit and the Pound Hill Road exit.
The demolition work is a type which can be done in adverse weather. Any schedule changes necessitated by today's storm will be posted at www.ridot.net/News.
The specifics on the closures and reopenings of Route 146 at the Woonsocket Hill Road Bridge are as follows:
Day/Time
Friday at 9 p.m.
Friday at 10 p.m.
Saturday at 10 a.m.
Saturday at 2 p.m.
Saturday at 10 p.m.
Affected Road
Route 146 North and South
Route 146 North and South
Route 146 North
Route 146 North
Route 146 South
Closed/Open Status
One lane closed
Full highway closure begins
One lane opens
Both lanes open
Both lanes open
Motorists can expect delays during the closure periods, and the use of alternate routes is recommended. RIDOT chose the overnight period when traffic volumes are low, to minimize impact to travelers. Closing Route 146 for the demolition allows the Department to expedite the bridge replacement, shave several weeks off the project schedule and get it reopened in one construction season.
The following detours will be in place on Route 146 North and South for demolition of the Woonsocket Hill Road Bridge, March 2-3, 2018. A map of the recommended detour route is on RIDOT's website at www.ridot.net/detourmaps.
Route 146 North:
• Take the Route 146A North (Eddie Dowling Highway) exit
• Turn left onto Route 146A North (Smithfield Road)
• Stay straight on Route 146A as it becomes Great Road
• Use on-ramp to return to Route 146 North
Route 146 South:
• Take the Pound Hill Road exit
• Turn right onto Industrial Drive
• Turn left onto Route 5 South (Providence Pike)
• Turn left onto Route 104 (Greenville Road/Farnum Pike)
• Use ramp to return to Route 146 South
The Woonsocket Hill Road Bridge itself was closed on Monday, February 26. The bridge, which carries approximately 1,000 vehicles per day, will remain closed through December 2018. A detour route using Routes 146A (Smithfield Road), Route 104 (Greenville Road) and Route 5 (Providence Pike) has been established. A detour map is available at www.ridot.net/detourmaps. Motorists also can expect daytime and nighttime lane closures and shifts for both directions of Route 146.
Final completion for the $11.3 million project is slated for Fall 2019. All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.
The Route 146 Corridor Bridges Project was 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.