As part of upcoming safety improvements to the Orms Street Bridge, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will be closing approximately 350 feet of Park Street from the State Office Access Road to its northerly terminus at Orms Street. The closure, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 is anticipated to last throughout the duration of the project, currently slated for completion in August 2013. The Orms Street Bridge, dating back to 1964, carries Orms Street over I-95 at Exit 23 in Providence.
All traffic wishing to access Douglas Avenue or Orms Street via Park Street should instead head east on Smith Street (toward Canal Street) and take a left onto Charles Street, and a second left onto Orms Street. Motorists will still be able to enter the State employees' parking lots behind the Departments of Administration, Transportation and Health, but when exiting the complex via State Street, they can follow the same detour. The Orms Street/Park Street traffic signal will be covered and inoperative during this period. The eastern sidewalk on Park Street will remain open during all phases of construction. The western sidewalk will be closed during construction of the south side of the Orms Street Bridge.
The Orms Street Bridge Safety Improvement Project involves full bridge deck replacement and rehabilitation of the remaining structure, installation of new pedestrian fencing, installation of new roadway joints, sidewalk replacement, and preparing and repainting existing structural steel. Due to the nature of these activities, the project does involve future overnight lane and exit closures that will be announced as the project progresses.
Through a $4.6 million contract with Cardi Corporation, the project also includes roadway improvements to Orms Street, such as resurfacing, resetting of granite curb, installation of signing and pavement markings, and the installation of video detection equipment at the traffic signals. This equipment will replace the current loop detectors and will help to better manage traffic flow.
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Contact: Heidi Gudmundson (401) 222-1362 x. 4009