The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced an updated schedule for the temporary traffic pattern change with lane closures on Route 6 just west of the Hartford Avenue exit in Providence for the rehabilitation of the Woonasquatucket River Bridge.
The changes are in effect for eastbound traffic and are scheduled for westbound traffic on Saturday, June 1, weather permitting. Once in place, traffic will shift to the left and the number of travel lanes will reduce from three to two in both directions.
The traffic pattern, about one quarter of a mile long, will be in place until the end of the year. It will then be modified slightly with lanes shifting to the right. The project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2021.
Travel lanes already are reduced to two lanes for traffic leaving and entering the Route 6/10 interchange work zone. This change means Route 6 eastbound traffic will encounter the lane closure earlier than now, just before the Merino Park footbridge. Westbound traffic will remain in the two-lane configuration until after the bridge.
The bridge carries 60,000 vehicles per day. Based on its last inspection, the bridge is only one rating point from being declared structurally deficient. This $10.8 million project will replace the bridge's superstructure.
The rehabilitation of the Woonaquatucket River Bridge is 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.