In keeping with its commitment to complete all of the proposed traffic movements for the Route 403 Relocation Project, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that tomorrow, Saturday January 10, 2009 it will open Exit 7A off of Route 4 Southbound for Route 402/ Frenchtown Road.
This will alleviate the detour at Exit 6 (Route 2/South County Trail) that motorists have currently been taking when wishing to reach Frenchtown Road. RIDOT will also open the exit ramp from Route 403 Westbound (leaving Quonset) to Route 4 Southbound. Due to the anticipated snowstorm for Saturday, the openings are weather permitting.
Currently only Route 4 Northbound is accessible from Route 403 Westbound. This additional ramp opening will also provide another way to reach Frenchtown Road from Quonset Point without using the local road system. Traffic leaving Quonset on Route 403 Westbound can take the new ramp to Route 4 Southbound and then take the Frenchtown Road exit rather than continuing onto Route 4 Southbound. With these two ramp openings scheduled for Saturday, all traffic movements will be completed on Route 403.
Final completion for the Route 403 Relocation Project is scheduled for mid 2009. Work will continue at the Devils Foot Road/School Street intersection in North Kingstown and this spring/summer additional paving work will take place on Routes 4 and 403.