The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced an updated schedule for temporary closures of a part of Route 116 (George Washington Highway) at the Route 146 interchange in Lincoln. The closures begin Sunday, January 26 and will take place during the evening and overnight hours for five consecutive nights. The closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day.
RIDOT chose the closure times when traffic is lightest on Route 116. For the first night of demolition work on Sunday only, closures will begin earlier. Route 116 South will be closed at 4 p.m. and Route 116 North reduced to one lane of travel from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. until the full closure start time.
RIDOT is demolishing the northbound portion of the Louisquisset Pike Bridge, which carries Route 146 over Route 116. The structurally deficient bridge is being replaced as part of a $14.5 million project. This closure only affects traffic on Route 116 under the highway overpass. RIDOT shifted traffic off the northbound bridge last fall, diverting northbound traffic onto a temporary roadway. Route 146 traffic will not be impacted.
During the closures, Route 116 North traffic will follow a detour using Route 246 South to Wilbur Road to Great Road to get back to Route 116. Trucks following this detour will need to stay on Route 246 and use the Route 146 North on-ramp at Breakneck Hill Road (Route 123). Those traveling south on Route 116 will be directed to use the Route 146 North on-ramp, reverse direction at the nearby I-295 interchange, and then follow Route 146 South to the Route 116 South exit. A detour map is available at www.ridot.net/DetourMaps.
Another series of overnight closures will take place in Fall 2020 when work shifts to the southbound bridge. Final completion is expected by the end of 2021.
The bridge carries approximately 47,000 vehicles per day.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
The replacement of the Louisquisset Pike Bridge 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.