Public-private partnership results in new highway ramps
JOHNSTON, RI- Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena and Michael Knipper, Citizens Bank Executive VP of Property and Procurement today officially opened the new I-295 highway interchange with Greenville Avenue in Johnston.
This new interchange will serve area residents and businesses and provide an alternative to the busy Route 6 or Route 44 commercial corridors for those seeking access to and from the Interstate. It was built through a public-private partnership connected to the new Citizens Bank campus off Greenville Avenue, which is set to open next month.
"This is a great example of government and private business coming together on transportation improvements that support economic development and provide new infrastructure for all users," Governor Raimondo said. "Since 2015, we've made a commitment to rebuild our roads and bridges and put Rhode Islanders back to work. A strong economy needs modern infrastructure and we're going to keep going to ensure that all Rhode Islanders and Rhode Island businesses have the transportation infrastructure they can count on."
The new interchange, designated as Exit 10, cost approximately $7 million to build. RIDOT contributed $3 million, with Citizens Bank funding the remaining costs.
"It's a win all the way around," Director Alviti said. "The state receives a new interchange at less than half the cost of building it ourselves, the residents have a new option for highway access and avoiding congestion, and it affords easy access for the new Citizens Bank campus without impacting local roads. Businesses rely on good infrastructure to create economic growth, and this project serves that purpose."
"This was a great partnership between Citizens Bank, the Town of Johnston and the R.I. Department of Transportation," Mayor Polisena said.
"We are very excited about the completion of this project, which will benefit Johnston residents by improving overall traffic flow while enabling our colleagues to easily access the new campus," said Knipper. "This is a fantastic example of how close partnership between the private sector and state and local authorities can lead to win-win for all involved."
This is the first new highway interchange for the Interstate system built in Rhode Island since 2003, when a new interchange was established (I-295 Exit 7) to service industrial parks, the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Central Landfill and other businesses. Additionally, RIDOT built the $200 million new Route 403, opened in 2008, to service the Quonset Business Park -- the state's largest industrial park, which is now home to more than 200 companies, employing nearly 12,000 people.
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