Work scheduled for two nights this week, two nights next week
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today updated its schedule for a series of temporary overnight highway closures for a portion of I-195 in East Providence between the Warren Avenue off-ramp (Exit 5) and the Broadway on-ramp. Adverse weather this week forced a change in the schedule.
The closures are needed to allow for the safe installation of new steel girders for the Parkway Ramp Bridge. The closures will be similar to the ones that happened this past spring for demolition, which were successfully implemented with no adverse impact to traffic.
The closures are scheduled to take place during overnight hours, now starting on Wednesday night, September 19. They will begin at midnight and run until 4 a.m. each night. RIDOT chose this time because it is when traffic volumes are lightest and will result in briefer delays for detouring traffic.
The closure schedule remains weather-dependent and subject to change:
- Wednesday night/Thursday morning (September 19-20): I-195 East
- Thursday night/Friday morning (September 20-21): I-195 East
- Monday night/Tuesday morning (September 24-25): I-195 West
- Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (September 25-26): I-195 West
Additionally, lane closures may be needed on I-195 East on Friday, September 21, from midnight to 4 a.m. but the highway will remain open.
During the closures, traffic on I-195 West will use Exit 6 to Broadway, and then follow a detour route using Waterman Avenue, Hall Street, Taunton Avenue and John Street before returning to Taunton Avenue and using the on-ramp to I-195. Motorists on I-195 East will need to take Exit 5 to Warren Avenue. The detour follows Warren Avenue eastbound to the Broadway on-ramp to return to I-195. A detour map is available at www.ridot.net/DetourMaps.
RIDOT will deploy personnel and police officers to assist detouring traffic at key intersections. Delays are expected. Motorists may wish to choose an alternate route if driving though this area late in the evening on closure days.
The structurally deficient Parkway Ramp Bridge carries traffic from both the Parkway and Warren Avenue ramps as it passes over the I-195 corridor. Work on its replacement began in April and will be completed in late fall, however work on the nearby Washington Bridge will extend its reopening until the end of 2019.
The bridge work is part of a new multi-bridge project in East Providence and Providence. The $20.7 million I-195 Corridor Bridges includes work on five structurally deficient bridges.
The I-195 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.