Changes Are Coming to I-95 North at the Providence Viaduct

May 3, 2024

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Good afternoon

Starting tonight, changes are coming to I-95 North in the vicinity of Exit 38 (Route 146 at the State Offices) at the Providence Viaduct in Providence. Learn more here.

Airport Connector, Warwick

Next week, we plan to place rip rap and mulch requiring right shoulder closures on the Airport Connector, from I-95 North to Post Road, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. We’re also anticipating partial lane closures for sidewalk and curbing work on Post Road, from Warwick Avenue to the Airport entrance, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Henderson Bridge, East Providence

Crews will continue to demolish the existing Henderson Bridge. This will require the closure of East River Street/River Drive, from Waterman Street to Angell Street, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists are encouraged to follow the signed detour, and pedestrians should use caution when crossing under the bridge. Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., alternating lane closures or lane narrowing, with frequent vehicle access in/out of the work zones, is scheduled for drainage and curbing work on Henderson Parkway, from the roundabout to the Henderson Bridge, and on Waterfront Drive, from Waterman Avenue to the roundabout, respectively. We may also be paving outside of the travel lanes weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Waterfront Drive, between Wilmarth Avenue and the roundabout.

I-95 North Viaduct, Providence

We’re instituting a new traffic pattern along I-95 North in the vicinity of Exit 38 (Route 146 and the State Offices) tonight. To do so, we need to first close Exit 38B (State Offices) off I-95 North to pave it. Motorists should use the Branch Avenue exit (Exit 39A) and follow the detour signs tonight starting at 10 p.m. through 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.

We also need to close the on-ramps from Route 6 East and Memorial Boulevard to I-95 North, plus lanes along I-95 North, between the Broadway and Branch Avenue exits. Motorists should anticipate the changes to take place tonight and tomorrow night, May 3 and 4, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. By Sunday morning, May 5, we’ll shift all lanes on the Exit 38 Service Road to the right.

Next week, we’re closing Exit 37 B/C/D, off I-95 North for pier repairs, Sunday-Thursday nights from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Follow signed detour. We’ll also have alternating lane closures to install median barrier on I-95, from Exit 37A to Exit 39A, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Mendon Road Bridge, Cumberland

We are replacing the Mendon Road Bridge, carrying 22,300 vehicles per day on Mendon Road (Route 122) over I-295. It was built in 1965 and is one of two primary north-south routes through the Town of Cumberland. Through late 2024, we currently have a travel lane reduction on I-295 from three to two at the bridge, allowing us to safely reconstruct its piers and abutments. We demolished half the structure and are rebuilding it now. We will shift traffic onto the new half of bridge with its new, smooth-riding surface in late Summer 2024. The project will continue to Fall 2025 as the State demolishes and replaces the other half of the bridge complete with a smooth-riding surface on Mendon Road from both I-295 interchange ramps and signals. All work remains within the construction zones and will not impact traffic on Mendon Road or I-295.

Pell Bridge Ramps Phase 2, Newport

We recently shifted barrier in advance of paving on both directions of Route 138 from the Eastern end of the Pell Bridge to the Connector Road. Weather permitting, we are scheduled to mill then pave several roadway segments within this project starting Sunday night, May 5. They include Route 138 East up to Admiral Kalbfus Road, Admiral Kalbfus Road, including the roundabout and JT Connell Highway toward Van Zandt and America’s Cup avenues, and Route 138 West back toward the Pell Bridge. Motorists can anticipate alternating lane closures for these operations on Sunday-Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Friday morning, May 24.

Other operations next week at this project will include daytime maintenance of drainage swales and installation of loam and seed sitewide. Additionally, we’ll be working on the newly installed traffic cabinets and lighting signals, with minimal traffic impacts anticipated.

Providence Street Bridge, West Warwick

We are replacing the Providence Street Bridge, carrying 10,500 vehicles per day on Providence Street (Route 33) over I-295, in West Warwick. The bridge was built in 1968 and we are using accelerated bridge construction methods, with an extended weekend closure in late summer to demolish the old and move the new bridge, into place. Presently, we are preparing to reconstruct the bridge’s center pier. After allowing time for concrete at the bottom of the bridge footings to cure, next week, we are scheduled to start forming the columns at the center pier that will ultimately help to support the new bridge superstructure.

Route 6/10 Interchange Reconstruction, Providence

Weather permitting, we are scheduled to open the new exit from Route 6 East to Route 10 South on Friday evening, May 10. Once open, we will close the temporary detour that had been in place. Next week at this project, we plan to pave on Route 6 East on Sunday night from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with alternating lane closures from Plainfield Street to the flyover bridge. Daytime work will consist of landscaping along Route 10 North, from Union Avenue to Tobey Street, and curb and sidewalk work on Plainfield Street at the Route 6 overpass. This will require alternating lane closures, Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Route 37 Improvements, Cranston/Warwick

Bridge Group 51A: Pontiac Avenue to Post Road (see photo, above)

Overnight alternating lane closures are anticipated for various construction operations at the Pawtuxet River South Bridge on Route 37 East, from Pontiac Avenue to the I-95 ramps, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Expect daytime alternating lane closures as well for drainage work on Pontiac Avenue, between the Route 37 East and West ramps, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bridge Group 51B: I-295 area (see photo, below)

Alternating one-way traffic is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Cranston Street, below Route 37, as we continue to build the Cranston Street Bridge, Monday, and pour the bridge deck on Friday.

Route 146 Bridges, Lincoln

Through a multi-bridge project, we are replacing the Breakneck Hill Road and Twin River Road bridges in Lincoln. They carry Breakneck Hill Road and Twin River Road over Route 146, respectively.

We poured the deck at the Breakneck Hill Road Bridge and we are currently working on its railing and approaches. As we look to complete the south side of the bridge by early summer, we are currently building a temporary pedestrian bridge that will be used during the next phase of the project when we rebuild the north side of the bridge. Although no lane closures are expected, the ongoing on-ramp closures from Breakneck Hill Road to Route 146 remain.

At the Twin River Road Bridge, we are currently building it from the ground up. We are drilling micropiles for its foundation and footings. This will be followed by bridge abutment, wingwall and beam work. We should complete the first phase of this bridge’s replacement by the end of this year, with the next phase to start in 2025. Next week, we will begin building the concrete footing, including doing rebar work at one of the abutments. No travel impacts are anticipated.

Route 146 Reconstruction Project, Lincoln/North Smithfield

Bridge demolition is prompting the closures of Route 146 North, from Exit 8A to Exit 8C, Exit 8A off Route 146 South, Exit 18A off I-295 South, plus the Route 146 South Service Road, from Exit 8B to Exit 7B, Sunday night, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Bridge work involves the closure of Exit 18B (Route 146 North) off I-295 North Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and Exit 18B off I-295 South, Exit 8B off Route 146 North, and the Route 146 North Service Road, from Exit 8A to Exit 8C, Monday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Lastly, we will have extended rolling roadblocks on Route 146, from Exit 7 to Exit 8C, Monday-Thursday nights from midnight to 6 a.m. through Friday morning, May 17. Please follow signed detours.

Left turns are still prohibited for bridge work to/from Route 146 North and South to Sayles Hill Road East or West Monday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Alternating lanes will be closed for drainage installation on Sayles Hill Road, from Route 146 to Route 99, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route 99 Bridges, Cumberland/Lincoln

We are rehabilitating four bridges that carry Route 99 in Cumberland and Lincoln. They include the Second Avenue North and South bridges in Cumberland, and the Blackstone River and Sayles Hill Road bridges in Lincoln. Lane splits are currently in place at the Sayles Hill Road Bridge, and a wide load detour remains along the entire stretch of Route 99.

As we strive to make these improvements, we remind all motorists to drive carefully and reduce their speeds throughout our work zones. This is for the safety of both our workers and the motoring public. Aside from the lane splits and wide load detour, no other traffic impacts are anticipated.

Some of our ongoing operations for the next few weeks at the Sayles Hill Road Bridge include asphalt removal, excavation, underdeck shielding, joint reconstruction, and deck patching. At the Blackstone River Bridge, we are scheduled to paint, patch the barrier, and patch and waterproof the bridge deck. Lastly, we plan to paint components at both the North and South Second Avenue Bridges.

Tower Hill Road Bridge and Paving, North/South Kingstown

On Friday night, May 10, weather permitting, we will be shifting the current travel lanes to the left at the work zone on Route 138 where it passes underneath the Tower Hill Road (Route 1) Bridge. Motorists should expect narrowed lanes during this operation from 9 p.m. on Friday night, May 10, through 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, May 11. This new traffic pattern is expected to remain in place for about three months. Next week, within the same project limits, we are scheduled to perform electrical work on the ramps. Travel lanes will remain open to traffic, with drainage and paving work taking place behind barriers, and no lane closures required. The work will be conducted Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Washington Bridge, East Providence/Providence

Motorists can anticipate overnight alternating lane closures to install striping and roadway reflectors on I-195 East and West, from South Main Street to Broadway at this project, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Department of Transportation, Two Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02903 | www.ridot.net