Occasional overnight highway closures will be needed
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced the schedule for closure and rehabilitation of the Pine Street Bridge in Pawtucket. This structurally deficient bridge is in such an advanced state of deterioration that it is being supported by wooden timbers and must be completely replaced.
The bridge will close on Sunday night, June 10 and will remain closed for four months, reopening this fall. It carries northbound traffic on Pine Street between Marrin Street and Cedar Street, over the I-95 corridor.
Prior to the closure, RIDOT will shift travel lanes to the left on I-95 North and South at Exit 27 starting Friday, June 1 for I-95 North and Monday, June 4 for I-95 South. All ramps and exits will remain open.
In order to safely demolish the old bridge and install the components for its replacement, RIDOT will conduct a series of overnight highway closures for I-95 North and South at Exit 27. The closures will be scheduled when traffic volumes are at their lowest, between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. The first set of closures for bridge demolition will take place the same night of the bridge closure, on June 10.
Intermittent highway closures will continue through the end of June. RIDOT will announce the specific dates and direction of I-95 to be affected prior to the bridge closure. Additional closures for construction will be needed in August. All closure information will be posted to RIDOT's website at www.ridot.net/traveladvisories.
During the highway closures, all traffic will use Exit 27 and follow a short detour route using city streets running parallel to the highway to reach the next on-ramp to get back onto I-95. Local traffic detouring around the Pine Street Bridge closure can use Marrin Street to George Street to Cedar Street. Detour maps are available at www.ridot.net/detourmaps.
Also part of this project, RIDOT must temporarily close the commuter parking lot along Marrin Street, between Garden Street and Pine Street. It will remain closed for the duration of the bridge closure. Another commuter lot is available one block to the east at the corner of Marrin Street and George Street.
RIDOT will use accelerated bridge construction methods to expedite the construction.
All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. Final completion of the project is scheduled for late Spring 2019.
The $9.3 million Pine Street Bridge 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.