The Rhode Island Department Transportation (RIDOT) is reminding motorists that weekend lane closures resume tonight, Friday, November 8, for the rapid replacement of the I-95 northbound bridge over Elmwood Avenue in Providence. This is RIDOT’s fifth rapid bridge installation since this summer.
The closures will be in effect from 8:00 p.m. on Friday through 5:00 a.m. Monday morning, November 11.
The Elmwood Avenue Bridge is the first bridge to be repaired or replaced as part of the new I-95 15 Bridges project, which will remove 15 bridges from the state’s backlog of poor and fair-to-poor condition bridges along I-95 and Route 10 between Providence and Warwick. RIDOT this summer received the state’s largest-ever federal grant of $251 million to help fund this project.
During the weekend, RIDOT will close the two right lanes on I-95 North just after the Route 10 (Exit 33) interchange. Additionally, the on-ramps from Route 10 North and South to I-95 North will be closed on select nights and during this second demolition weekend. RIDOT strongly suggests that travelers use alternate routes such as Route 10 and I-295 on both weekends and plan additional time for travel.
RIDOT also reminds motorists that a lane split is in place on I-95 North at the bridge with two lanes on either side of the work zone. The split will remain until the lane closures begin Friday night. 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 bridge replacement work also requires the full closure of Elmwood Avenue at the I-95 overpass. During the closure, drivers can follow a signed detour using Reservoir Avenue (Route 2) and getting on Route 10 to reach Elmwood Avenue. Local traffic north of the bridge can also use Roger Williams Avenue to reach the detour route. There will be no changes for traffic on Elmwood Avenue northbound or I-95 North to Exit 33B trying to reach Roger Williams Park. Anyone heading to the park on I-95 South or Elmwood Avenue southbound will follow the detour route.
The remaining schedule for the bridge replacement and traffic impacts is as follows:
Now in Effect: There is a lane split on I-95 North just after the Route 10 (Exit 33) interchange with two lanes on either side of the split until Friday night, November 8. All lanes go through.
November 8-11: The two right lanes on I-95 North will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. Friday night, November 8. Also, Elmwood Avenue will be closed at the bridge. All lanes reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, November 11. Also during this weekend, the on-ramps from Route 10 North or South to I-95 North will be temporary closed. Motorists can use the ramp to I-95 South and reverse direction at the Jefferson Boulevard exit.
This rapid approach to bridge replacement saves motorists more than two years of lane closures, shifts and splits. In September, RIDOT replaced the I-95 southbound bridge over Elmwood Avenue over two consecutive weekends.
The I-95 15 Bridges project takes a holistic approach to addressing these bridges to ensure the safe movement of over 185,000 vehicles, including about 9,000 trucks and heavy freight vehicles. Nine of the 15 bridges are structurally deficient. Three are rated among the top five most traveled structurally deficient bridges in Rhode Island. A total of 11 bridges will be repaired and four will be eliminated. RIDOT also will rebuild Route 10 from Elmwood Avenue to Park Avenue – transforming it into a boulevard with a shared use path to provide better connectivity for all users.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
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