Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Michael P. Lewis will be available tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 11 a.m. for Q & A regarding the upcoming Iway changes. The interview site will be the India Point Park Pedestrian Bridge which offers a clear view of current and future traffic patterns that will be in place when RIDOT opens the Iway to I-95 southbound.
Starting Thursday morning, June 18, 2009 motorists will have to decide before they drive over the Washington Bridge into Providence whether they need to take the Iway or travel the old way on I-195. Motorists should move into the correct lanes before they pass over the Bridge.
Just as is the case today, motorists on I-195 West who want to access I-95 South will need to use the left lanes while motorists seeking to access I-95 North will need to use the right lanes. The main difference is that the split will now occur immediately after Exit 3 (Gano Street) and the Washington Bridge.
Traffic on the left headed to I-95 South will pass over the new Providence River Bridge and use the new highway which connects to I-95 just prior to Exit 18 (Thurbers Avenue). Traffic on the right will continue to use old I-195 until RIDOT opens the final major highway segment (I-195 West to I-95 North) in late 2009.
Detailed information, including maps, are available on RIDOT’s website, www.dot.ri.gov. Additional information is available by calling 511 or listening to the Highway Advisory Radio system on 1630 AM. Information is also available by signing up for one of RIDOT’s social networking websites: Facebook, Blogger, MySpace or Twitter. The latter of these features real-time updates on highway incidents from RIDOT’s Transportation Management Center. Additionally, motorists can contact RIDOT’s Customer Service Department at 401-222-2450 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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Contact: Dana Alexander Nolfe, 401-222-1362 x.4450