Good afternoon

Next week is National Work Zone Awareness Week. We’re taking this opportunity to encourage safe driving habits throughout our state. This will help protect the dedicated workers rebuilding our roads and bridges and the public safety officials assisting them and other motorists. 

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

Tonight, Friday, April 17, we expect to finish demolishing the southbound Douglas Pike (Route 7) Bridge carrying Route 7 South over I-295. This will require the closure of Route 7 South at the I-295 interchange from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Drivers on both directions of I-295 may also experience brief highway closures lasting no more than 15 minutes in the vicinity of Exit 15. Next week, we’ll have similar restrictions while drivers follow the new shift and cross the temporary structure. As we build the new retaining walls and install the new bridge structures and beams for the southbound bridge, Route 7 South over I-295 will be closed Tuesday night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Thursday and Friday (April 24) nights, motorists can anticipate the closures of Route 7 South over I-295, the two right lanes on both directions of I-295 at the bridge, and brief highway closures of I-295 lasting no more than 15 minutes in the vicinity of Exit 15, as needed. Please follow the signed detours.

Bridge Group 18C_R – Frenchtown, East Greenwich/ North Kingstown 

On Monday night, April 20, we are scheduled to begin temporary weeknight closures of Route 4 North, from Exit 5 to Exit 9, to place steel beams at the South County Trail Bridge. These closures will take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday-Thursday nights, April 20-23 for Route 4 North and April 27-30 for Route 4 South. Please follow signed detours.

Prior to the closures, motorists can expect alternating lane closures to install construction shielding and overhang brackets along both directions of Route 4 in the vicinity of Exit 7 at the Frenchtown Road Bridge, Sunday night, April 19 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

I-95 15 Bridges, Providence/Cranston/Warwick

Our overnight operations next week will involve alternating lane closures on I-95, from Route 37 to Thurbers Avenue, Sunday-Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will focus on continuing to demolish the southbound Jefferson Boulevard and the Eddy Street bridges, carrying Jefferson Boulevard and Eddy Street over I-95, respectively, as well as placing steel and lagging while forming the deck at the Huntington South Bridge, carrying Route 10 South over I-95.

The I-95 ‘Missing Move’ and Quonset Ramps Construction, North Kingstown/East Greenwich 

As we continue to remove bedrock within the pathway of the new ramp we will build between I-95 North and Route 4 South, blasting operations have resulted in minimal traffic impacts. Next week, motorists can expect the temporary weekday closures of Route 4 South at its ramp from I-95 South (Exit 24B) Tuesday-Friday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. for about 10 minutes per day. During this blasting all lanes on I-95 South remain open to traffic. While originally estimated to result in backups to Cowesett Road for about 20 minutes each day, actual traffic impacts have been significantly less. Still, please plan extra time for travel or seek alternate routes.

Other construction activities next week at this project include temporary barrier installation, requiring a right lane closure on Route 1 (Post Road) South in the vicinity of Route 403, Sunday night from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., traffic signal improvements, with alternating lane closures on Route 2 (Quaker Lane) in the vicinity of I-95, and roadway improvements with alternating one-way traffic at the intersection of Compass Circle and Industrial Drive, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.



Alternating lane closures are also scheduled along Route 1 (Post Road) North and South, from Devil's Foot Road to Route 403, as we shift all lanes to the east and create a temporary pedestrian sidewalk along the southbound right shoulder on Friday night, April 17 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., to create a work zone for construction of a new on-ramp from Post Road to Route 403 West. 

Post Road & West Main Street Curb & Sidewalk, North Kingstown

Next week at this project, motorists should expect alternating lane closures with narrowed lanes and frequent vehicle access in/out of work zone for continued drainage installation within the roadway shoulders on Route 1 (Post Road), from Camp Avenue to West Main Street, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other operations include the start of water line work, from Richard Smith Drive to West Main Street, by North Kingstown Water, and project-wide gas line installation by Rhode Island Energy.

Route 37 Improvements, Cranston/Warwick

Bridge Group 51C: I-295 to Pontiac Avenue and from Amtrak to Post Road

Next Friday night, April 24, at 8 p.m., we are scheduled to shift travel lanes to the right on Route 37 East and West at the Oaklawn Avenue Bridge, with alternating lane closures through 5 a.m. on Saturday morning, April 25. During the operation, we will also remove the stop sign at the end of Exit 3A (Route 37 East) off I-295 North and open up Route 37 to three lanes in each direction over Oaklawn Avenue. Plus, we will create a work zone down the middle of the bridge to replace its median barrier.



Prior to the shift, we will continue bridge demolition with a left lane closure on Route 37 East over Amtrak, Monday-Friday (April 24) nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Route 1 (Post Road) under Route 37, alternating lane closures are scheduled to install temporary steel barriers Monday night from 8 p.m. to 4 am. and to do utility work Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday night from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Route 146 Bridges, Lincoln

As we continue to replace the Twin River Road Bridge, next week we will install its center median barrier, excavate for roadway widening, and place concrete for the median transition and in the road widening areas. This will require alternating lane closures on both directions of Route 146, before and after the bridge, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Route 146 Reconstruction Project, Lincoln/North Smithfield

Next week at this project we are scheduled to mill and pave Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. This involves the closures of Route 146, from Route 116 to Route 146A, Exit 10 off Route 146 North and South, the Route 146 North Service Road at Sayles Hill Road, Route 146A South at Dowling Village Boulevard, the on-ramp from Route 146A South to Route 146 North, and the West side of Sayles Hill Road, from Route 146 to Iron Mine Hill Road.

Other portions that will be milled and paved will involve lane closures or other restrictions Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. These include alternating lane closures on the East side of Sayles Hill Road, from Route 99 to Route 146, with westbound traffic from Route 99 detoured, and left turn restrictions from Route 146 North at Sayles Hill Road. Traffic will also be restricted from traveling under the Sayles Hill Road Flyover Bridge while the milling and paving is taking place. Please follow signed detours during all closures.

School Street, Lincoln

Local access is permitted as construction continues along School Street with one crew installing the new sewer main, and a second installing new drainage. The signed detour, from Route 126 (Old River Road) to Main Street in Albion, remains in place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Warwick Corridor Project

Project crews will be working day and night as they continue building the new bridges over I-95 and I-295. Daytime operations not requiring lane closures include forming and placing concrete for the center median barrier on East Avenue, installing precast median barrier on East Avenue and within the median on I-95, and placing curbing on I-95 under the Route 113 overpass. Overnight work includes installing concrete curbing and forming sidewalks at the intersection of Route 2 and Route 113, with alternating lane closures, Sunday-Thursday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., and removing debris shielding and overhang brackets on I-295 North and South at the East Avenue overpass, with alternating lane closures, Sunday-Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Washington Bridge & I-195, East Providence/Providence 

Construction-related activities continue on the Washington Bridge Rebuild project, with design, survey, permit applications, the ordering of materials and mobilization of equipment.

Weather permitting, we are scheduled to close up to two lanes for continued bridge preventative maintenance activities on I-195 East and West at the Washington Bridge, Tuesday and Thursday nights, April 21 and 23, and April 28 and 30, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Also on Tuesday night, April 21, maintenance crews are scheduled to clear vegetation on I-195 West, between Broadway and Valley Street, with shoulder closures possible from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Upcoming electrical work is scheduled with a right lane closure on I-195 East, from Exit 1A to Exit 1B-C, Monday night, April 27 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., and bridge work at the Providence River (Iway) Bridge, with one left lane closed from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., then two left lanes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on I-195 West, from Exit 1C to Exit 1A, Sunday-Thursday nights, April 26-30.