RIDOT making substantial progress on multiple fronts.
Q4 achievements include string of accelerated bridge replacements.
New flyover road bridge now in place over Route 146. Eliminating the historically dangerous Sayles Hill Road traffic signal and greatly improving traffic flow.
As of the end of the fourth quarter of FY 2024, RIDOT was tracking 48 capital projects in active construction — as the agency continues to focus on succeeding milestones across an extensive list of major and secondary initiatives. A few of the accomplishments highlighted in its Q4 report, released on October 30, include:
Rapid bridge replacements. In a span of only six weeks, CIRI member companies helped RIDOT to replace four bridges using accelerated methods. Each instance was completed within a weekend, an extended weekend, or over the course of consecutive weekends. Methods used included a streamlined demolition and bridge slide-in process along with prefabricated bridge units. By employing these strategies, RIDOT is able to reduce the overall construction impact on drivers by minimizing lane closures, shifts and splits. The replaced bridges are:
Washington Secondary Bike Path in Cranston. Part of the refurbished 11-mile stretch with new pavement, striping and fencing installed in late summer/early fall.
- Providence Street Bridge over I-295 in West Warwick View the bridge slide-in.
- Route 37 West Bridge over Cranston Street to I-295 North View the bridge slide-in.
- Route 37 West to Bridge I-295 over the Washington Secondary Bike Path
- I-95 South Bridge over Elmwood Avenue in Providence
I-95 15 Project (Bridge Group 4). Supported by the state’s largest-ever federal grant of $251 million, this project will remove 15 bridges along I-95 and Route 10 between Providence and Warwick. The largest design-build ever undertaken by RIDOT, this 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. The I-95 South Elmwood Avenue Bridge mentioned in the previous section was the first bridge replaced under this program — just a few months after receipt of the federal grant.
Detail work at I-95 northbound Providence Viaduct.
I-95 Northbound Viaduct Project. Construction continued on the permanent median barrier that separates the new collector/distributor (C/D) road from the I-95 thru lanes. The new northern half of the Smith Street Bridge was completed and opened to traffic. Next quarter, the old Atwells Ave on-ramp to I-95 North will be demolished, the new ramp from Memorial Blvd to I-95 North will be completed — traffic will be shifted onto the new structure — and an additional lane will be opened on the new C/D road.
Routes 6/10 Interchange. This project continues to move toward a late-2024 completion. Two new bridges connecting Tobey Street to Harris Avenue opened, creating a new connection between the Federal Hill and Olneyville neighborhoods. Other key openings included the Service Road West between Tobey Street and Westminster Street, and the rebuilt exit to Westminster Street from Route 10 northbound. All highways, ramps and local roads are in their final configuration.
For the most up-to-date information on RIDOT programs and projects, visit: www.dot.ri.gov/RhodeWorks/
Confluence of on-ramps on I-95 Viaduct northbound
