Good afternoon

We recently announced a few new traffic pattern changes on some of our ongoing projects. Last night, we implemented the first of several minor changes on parts of I-95 and Route 10 between Warwick and Providence for our I-95 15 Bridges project. Later next week, as part of our Warwick Corridor project, we’ll resume nighttime closures of short sections of I-95 and I-295 in Warwick for bridge reconstruction. And next Friday night, we’ll put in a lane split on Route 99 South where it crosses Route 146 in North Smithfield.

Diamond Hill Road and Douglas Pike Bridges over I-295, Cumberland/Smithfield

On Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., we’re scheduled to close the left lanes on Route 7 (Douglas Pike) North over I-295 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Route 7 South over I-295 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., to install a temporary water bypass. This work also may continue on Thursday and Friday. Otherwise, our crews plan to continue building the retaining wall along the low-speed lane sides of both directions of I-295 under the Douglas Pike Bridge. Crews also will excavate around the Diamond Hill Road Bridge center pier on I-295 under Diamond Hill Road (Route 114), while also installing temporary shoring. This work will take place Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and does not require any lane closures. 

East Main Road Pavement Improvements, Middletown

A lane shift is in place along both directions of Route 138 (East Main Road,) from Meadow Lane to the Boulevard Nurseries Garden Center, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over the next couple weeks, we are scheduled to install new precast concrete curbing and reconstruct the drainage structures in the northbound direction of travel.

I-95 15 Bridges, Providence/Cranston/Warwick

This week, we will begin making numerous minor traffic changes as part of this project. We plan to shift and narrow lanes on sections of I-95. Click here to learn more about what we’re doing and when.

Next week, we will continue to remove the I-95 median at the Route 10 interchange, and place barrier in both directions at the north end of the project for construction at the Eddy and Broad Street bridges. This will necessitate alternating lane closures on I-95, from Park Avenue to Thurbers Avenue, Sunday-Friday (July 18) nights, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. 

I-95 North Viaduct, Providence

This Saturday night from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., we need to close Exit 37 BCD off I-95 North to clear demolition debris from one of the bridge piers we demolished from the old I-95 Northbound Viaduct Bridge. Guardrail installation and paving will also require the closures of various ramps within the I-95/Exit 37 interchange, Sunday-Thursday nights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists can expect alternating lane closures for paving and barrier installation on I-95, from Exit 36B to Exit 39A, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please follow signed detours during all closures.

Route 37 Improvements, Cranston/Warwick/Johnston

We recently shifted the existing lane split on a section of Route 37 West prior to the I-295 North exit. The traffic pattern still features one lane to the right for I-295 North, and one to the left for Route 37 West, but it should now be easier for motorists to navigate as it functions more like a traditional off-ramp.

On Wednesday night from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., we need to close Exit 1B (I-295 North) off Route 37 East to pave. Please follow signed detour. Overnight bridge painting will involve alternating lane closures on both I-295 North and South, in the vicinity of Route 37, Sunday-Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Motorists can expect alternating lane closures or possible brief highway closures to install overhead signs on I-295 North, from Exit 3A (Route 37 East) to Exit 9 (Route 6), Sunday-Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. We also plan to pour concrete and pave on I-295 North, in the vicinity of Route 37 with no lane closures, Monday-Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Route 146 Reconstruction Project, Lincoln/North Smithfield

Overnight drainage installation requires the non-concurrent closures of the following roadways, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.: Route 146 North and South, from Exits 8A to 8C; the Route 146 North Service Road and Exit 18B off I-295 North; and the Route 146 South Service Road and Exit 18A off I-295 South. Overnight bridge construction will also require the closure of the west side of Sayles Hill Road, from Route 146 to Iron Mine Hill Road, and the prohibition of left turns from Route 146 North and South to the east and west sides of Sayles Hill Road and vice versa, as well as the closure of the Route 146 South Service Road, from the Ski Shop to Sayles Hill Road, to all but local traffic, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please follow signed detours during all closures.

Tower Hill Road Bridge and Paving, North/South Kingstown

Expect overnight alternating lane or temporary ramp closures with signed detours on Route 1 (Tower Hill Road), from Route 4 to Shermantown Road, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Other planned operations include milling the ramps at the Routes 1 and 138 interchange, paving Route 1 North, from Shermantown Road to Route 4, installing guardrail, applying protective coating to the bridge elements, light pole installation, and minor landscaping. Daytime bridge, site and electrical work is also scheduled with no lane closures at the Routes 1 and 138 ramps, Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Warwick Corridor Project

We’re scheduled to resume nighttime closures on short sections of I-95 and I-295 next week to set steel beams and other prefabricated bridge units for the bridges we’re replacing over I-95 (two bridges) and I-295 (one bridge) as part of this project. On Thursday night, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., we need to close I-95 South at the East Avenue overpass to set steel. Motorists should follow the signed detours. To get ready for the steel placement on Thursday night, we also need to close the left and center lanes on both directions of I-95 at the East Avenue overpass, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. On Sunday-Wednesday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., we will install precast center pier units. This will involve alternating lane closures on I-95 North and South at the East Avenue overpass. 

Washington Bridge & I-195, East Providence/ Providence

Next week, bridge preservation work continues with up to two lanes closed on I-195 East and West, from I-95 to South Main Street, Tuesday night, July 15, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Daytime bridge preservation work will occur weekdays under the bridge with no lane closures.

Overnight Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) work is scheduled from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., with up to two lanes closed on I-195 East, from Exit 1A to Exit 1B-C, Wednesday and Thursday nights, July 16 and 17 and Thursday night, July 24. It is also scheduled with up to two lanes closed on I-195 East, from Exit 1A to Exit 1B-C and with up to two lanes closed on I-195 West, from the Potter Street overpass to the Gano Street on-ramp, Sunday-Wednesday nights, July 20-23, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Tonight, Friday, July 11, RIDOT will install traffic paddles along a short section of I-195 East, in the center of the highway, allowing traffic in the two lanes from I-95 North and the two lanes from I-95 South to change lanes when vehicles are parallel to each other, which is more efficient. This is a pilot and RIDOT will be monitoring the travel times after the paddles are installed to detect any time savings and determine if any adjustments are needed, and if they will remain in place.

The approved in-water demolition work continues. In accordance with CRMC guidelines, debris will be removed from the river as work progresses, placed onto barges and towed to land for transfer into trucks for offsite disposal. Temporary protective sheeting and turbidity curtains are in place. Demolition work will take place weekdays only from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. No work is currently planned after 4 p.m. to avoid any disruptive noise during evening hours.