The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that the last major segment of the Iway: I-195 West to I-95 North is scheduled to open in time for the morning commute on Tuesday, October 20. All changes are weather permitting.
“Next week’s opening marks another success for the State and the Iway project,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis. “Once we open this new ramp, all four major movements on the Iway will be completed and all traffic will be utilizing the new highway. The old I-195 will be closed permanently allowing for the demolition next year.”
With next week’s opening of I-195 West to I-95 North, the Department will also open the ramp from I-195 West to Point Street, and the ramp from I-95 North to Point Street. These ramps will carry traffic going to the Jewelry District, the Davol Square area, the hospitals complex, and the west side of Providence.
Additionally, once the I-195 West to I-95 North movement is open, motorists traveling on Gano Street and taking the I-195 West on-ramp will have access to both I-95 North and I-95 South. The Wickenden Street and Dyer Street on-ramps to I-195 West will be closed. Motorists who used to travel this area will need to take alternate routes to access I-95 North and I-95 South.
RIDOT opened the first segment of the Iway, I-95 North to I-195 East, in November 2007. The next segment, I-95 South to I-195 East, opened in December 2008. I-195 West to I-95 South opened in June 2009. Additional on- and off-ramps will continue to open this year and next. RIDOT expects demolition of old I-195 to begin in 2010 with the entire Iway project wrapping up in 2012.
More information on these changes is available at www.dot.ri.gov, by calling 511, or by listening to the Highway Advisory Radio system on 1630 AM. Updates are also available on Facebook, Blogger, MySpace or Twitter. The latter of these features real-time information 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.
Contact: Heidi Cote 401-222-1362 x. 4009