The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced that it will permanently close the on-ramp from Central Avenue in Tiverton to Route 24 South and the Sakonnet River Bridge on Monday, July 27, 2009. The closure is part of the ongoing project to build a new Sakonnet River Bridge.
Motorists who use the Central Avenue on-ramp can use Main Road to a newly reconstructed bridge and intersection to reach Route 24 South. The Main Road interchange (Exit 5) will be the primary access point to and from Route 24 from northeastern Tiverton. RIDOT also is making improvements to the nearby Fish Road interchange (Exit 6) with the installation of traffic signals.
RIDOT permanently closed the Central Avenue off-ramp from Route 24 North (Exit 4) on March 25. Both Central Avenue ramps are slated for demolition this year.
RIDOT in April awarded a $163.7 million contract to Cardi Corporation for the construction of the new Sakonnet River Bridge, which will be built south of the existing Sakonnet River Bridge. The Department anticipates the new bridge to open to traffic in 2012. The contract with Cardi Corporation includes incentive clauses which could result in the bridge opening to traffic one year earlier.
A map detailing these changes can be found online at www.dot.ri.gov/travelri/detourmaps.asp. Motorists can also contact RIDOT’s Customer Service Division at 222-2450 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Contact: Charles St. Martin, 40-222-1362 x. 4007