Two-month closure needed as part of major bridge rehabilitation project
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced that it will begin a two-month closure of Exit 30 on I-95 South on Thursday, October 11. The off-ramp is located close to the Massachusetts border in Pawtucket, and provides access to Roosevelt Avenue, East Street and parts of Pawtucket and Central Falls.
The closure is the first step in a $19.1 million design-build project that will replace four bridges that carry both directions of I-95 in this area. The existing Exit 30 off-ramp is interconnected with one of the bridge structures, and will be relocated and modified slightly to separate it from the bridge so construction can proceed.
During the closure period, motorists will be directed to follow a detour using Exit 29 (Downtown Pawtucket. Those needing to travel to East Street can turn left at the end of the off-ramp and follow Fountain Street northbound. RIDOT expects to reopen Exit 30 by mid-December.
Motorists should plan extra travel time to reach their destinations during this closure. The Exit 30 off-ramp carries about 3,400 vehicles per day.
The design-build project will replace two bridges that carry I-95 North and South over Roosevelt Avenue and two bridges that carry the highway over East Street. RIDOT will employ accelerated bridge construction methods, including building the new bridge superstructure components adjacent to the highway and rolling them into place when done. Bridge construction is expected to begin in Spring 2019 with one set of bridges installed next year and the other in 2020. The entire project is scheduled to be finished in Fall 2020.
The replacement of these four bridges will be funded in part by Rhode Island's tractor trailer truck-only tolling program.
The I-95 Corridor Bridges Project was 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.