The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is using a series of temporary traffic patterns along Route 146 in North Smithfield as part of a $7.1 million bridge preservation and rehabilitation project. The changes include the use of lane shifts and lane splits.
Lane splits will be installed Thursday night, September 19 starting at 8:30 p.m. for two bridges on Route 146 South. These include the Old Great Road Bridge (just south of the Massachusetts state line and the Central Street overpass) and the Forestdale Bridge, located just after the Route 5/Route 102 (Forestdale/Slatersville) exit. The splits will be in place for approximately two to three weeks.
There currently are lane splits on Route 146 North at the same two bridges. RIDOT recommends motorists reduce their speed and stay in their lane through the work zones. All lanes go through.
Following this current phase of bridge work, all lanes at both bridges will be shifted to the left. Traffic patterns will be restored at the conclusion of the work, in late October.
Work on the Old Great Road and Forestdale bridges is part of a seven-bridge preservation and rehabilitation project with six structures in North Smithfield and one in Providence. The entire project concludes in Spring 2020.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
The Bridge Group 13A - Route 146 Bridges Contract 1 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.