Traffic change necessary for replacement of Park Avenue Bridge over the Pocasset River
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced it will implement a detour for a portion of Route 12 (Park Avenue) in Cranston effective Monday, March 11. The detour is needed to provide a safe work zone as part of the rehabilitation of the Park Avenue Bridge, which carries Route 12 over the Pocasset River, just east of the intersection of Park Avenue, Budlong Road and Dyer Avenue.
The detour will affect only eastbound traffic. Westbound traffic will not be affected. Access to local businesses will be maintained at all times. A detour map is available online at www.ridot.net/DetourMaps. Turn-by-turn directions for Route 12 East are as follows:
• Turn left onto Dyer Avenue
• Turn right onto Cranston Street
• Turn right onto Gansett Avenue
• Follow Gansett Avenue to return to Route 12
RIDOT originally planned to finish this project by Summer 2021, but is working with its contractor to complete construction as quickly as possible. The decision to start construction this winter instead of waiting until spring is expected to trim months off the time the detour will be needed. RIDOT intends to restore the original traffic pattern by the end of this year.
The Park Avenue Bridge carries about 18,000 vehicles per day. It was built in 1960 and is considered structurally deficient. RIDOT has had to install temporary barriers along the curb line in both directions to prevent any vehicles from driving over the most heavily deteriorated portions. RIDOT will replace the bridge's deck and supporting beams, and rehabilitate the bridge's abutments. The road at the bridge will be paved and sidewalks will be replaced.
All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.
The rehabilitation of the Park Avenue Bridge 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.