The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has started a project to perform preventive maintenance on Providence area Interstate bridges. The work will be completed in phases, affecting three separate areas on I-195, I-95 and the Clifford Street Bridge over the next several months.
The project begins on both directions of I-195 in Providence, just east of the Providence River Bridge near Exit 2 (India Street/South Main Street). During this work, all lanes of travel will be maintained during daytime and peak travel periods. However, RIDOT will need to implement lane shifts with divided highway traffic patterns. Overnight lane and off-ramp closures are possible.
Currently on I-195 traffic lanes are shifted to the left with barrier set in place along the right shoulder to provide a safe work zone for work on bride joints. Each step of this 5-stage process will take approximately two to three weeks, with RIDOT replacing bridge joints across all lanes of travel.
As work progresses from one stage of construction to the next, new traffic patterns will be established with traffic flowing on either side of a divided highway. The same pattern was used for phased construction on the Providence Viaduct project last fall. It is important to note that all lanes are through traffic lanes that continue onto I-195.
The anticipated schedule for each stage of the I-195 bridge joint work is as follows:
Stage 1
(Now – Late April): All lanes shift to the left and the right shoulder is closed in both directions.
Stage 2
(Early May – Mid-May): A divided highway with three lanes to the left and one lane to the right.
Stage 3
(Mid-May – Late May): A divided highway with two lanes to the left and two lanes to the right.
Stage 4
(Late May – Early June): A divided highway with one lane to the left and three lanes to the right.
Stage 5
(Early June – Mid June): All lanes shift to the right and the left shoulder will be closed in both directions.
Drivers should proceed with caution through the work zone without stopping. The temporary traffic patterns on I-195 East will result in some restrictions for traffic seeking to take Exit 2 (India Street). Drivers traveling from I-95 North to I-195 East must use the far right lane for that exit. Those driving from I-95 South to I-195 East will not have access to Exit 2 during Stage 2 of the temporary traffic patterns (early May – mid-May). A signed detour will be established using Exit 5 to reverse direction to I-195 West, then to Exit 3 (Gano Street).
In late June following the conclusion of the work on I-195, RIDOT will repair bridge joints on the Clifford Street Bridge. This structure, which spans I-95 between West Franklin Street and East Franklin Street, will be closed on weekends over a one month period. Overnight closures of the nearby ramp from Point Street to I-95 North also are possible.
The final location for bridge maintenance is the ramp from I-195 West to I-95 South. This two-lane ramp will be restricted to one lane over two weekend closure periods later in the summer.
The entire $3.2 million Providence Area Bridges Project is on time and on budget, and is scheduled for final completion by the end of 2017.
The Providence Area Bridges Project is made possible by RhodeWorks, RIDOT's ongoing commitment to repair structurally deficient bridges and bring Rhode Island's transportation infrastructure into a state of good repair, promote economic development, and create jobs. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.
All dates and times are weather-dependent and subject to change. To sign up for weekly updates on this or other RIDOT projects around the state, contact help@ridot.net. Visit www.dot.ri.gov or follow RIDOTnews on Facebook or Twitter for timely information on construction projects and traffic conditions.
Contact: Charles St. Martin (401) 222-1362, Ext. 4007