On Friday, September 15, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will resume its series of consecutive weekend lane closures of I-95 near Route 10/Exit 33 at the Cranston/Providence line for replacement of the Wellington Avenue Bridge. Travelers should expect delays and use alternate routes such as Route 10 and I-295. This will be the fourth and final weekend closure.
Each weekend since late August, RIDOT has closed lanes on both sides of the highway to demolish and replace different parts of this structurally deficient bridge. The last weekend of closures starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 15 with all lanes open by 5 a.m. Monday morning, September 18. Two lanes on I-95 North will be closed this weekend, as well as the on-ramps from Route 10 North and Route 10 South to I-95 North.
Until Friday night, a lane split remains in effect on I-95 North with two lanes on either side of the work zone. Drivers should not stop or suddenly change lanes at the split. This unsafe behavior will cause traffic delays and could lead to a crash. All lanes go through.
The remaining schedule for the bridge replacement and traffic impacts is as follows:
Through September 15: There will be a lane split on I-95 North near Route 10 in Cranston, with two lanes on either side of the split. All lanes go through.
September 15-18: The two right lanes on I-95 North and the left lane on I-95 South will be closed beginning at 7 p.m. Friday night, September 15. Additionally, the ramps from Route 10 North and Route 10 South to I-95 North will be closed. Drivers should remain on Route 10 North onto the Route 6/10 Connector toward Providence, or seek alternate routes.
September 18: All lanes open by 5 a.m. There will be no lane split, northbound or southbound.
The bridge replacement operation also requires the closure of Wellington Avenue at the bridge, with a signed detour established for local traffic. The detour will be in effect until September 19.
This rapid approach to bridge replacement saves motorists more than two years of lane closures, shifts and splits. Again, for this brief time, drivers can expect delays, should plan extra time for travel, and consider alternate routes such as Route 10 and I-295.
RIDOT has coordinated with its neighboring states to inform motorists of anticipated construction delays from this bridge work prior to major highway interchanges, including on I-95 South in North Attleboro, Mass. before I-295 and on I-95 North in East Lyme and Waterford, Conn. before I-395.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
The replacement of the Wellington Avenue Bridge is made possible by RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Improvement Act. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island's infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.