The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced a series of temporary overnight highway closures for a portion of I-195 in East Providence between the Washington Bridge and the Broadway on-ramp. The closures are needed to allow for the safe demolition of the structurally deficient Parkway Ramp Bridge.
The closures will take place during overnight hours starting on Tuesday night, May 1. They will begin at midnight and run until 4 a.m. each night. RIDOT chose this time because it is when traffic volumes are lightest and will result in briefer delays for detouring traffic.
The closure schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change:
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (May 1-2): I-195 West
Wednesday night/Thursday morning (May 2-3): I-195 East
During the closures, traffic on I-195 West will use Exit 6 to Broadway, and then follow a detour route using Waterman Avenue, Taunton Avenue and John Street before returning to Taunton Avenue and using the on-ramp to I-195.
Motorists on I-195 East will need to take Exit 5 to Warren Avenue. The detour follows Warren Avenue eastbound to the Broadway on-ramp to return to I-195. A detour map is available at www.ridot.net/detourmaps.
RIDOT will deploy personnel and police officers to assist detouring traffic at key intersections. Delays are expected. Motorists may wish to choose an alternate route if driving though this area late in the evening on closure days.
The replacement of the Parkway Ramp Bridge began on April 4 and will be completed in late fall, however work on the nearby Washington Bridge will extend its reopening until the end of 2019.
The bridge work is part of a new multi-bridge project in East Providence and Providence. The $20.7 million I-195 Corridor Bridges includes work on five structurally deficient bridges.
The I-195 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.