RIDOT and CIRI members carrying out diverse projects statewide.
Including long-needed upgrades for major thoroughfares.
Flyover bridge construction to connect Route 37 westbound to Route 295 in Cranston.
During the first and second quarters of FFY 2025 — covering October 2024 through March 2025 — RIDOT advanced a number of sizable projects toward major milestones or completion. A few of the agency’s accomplishments highlighted in its Q1 & Q2 reports, released respectively on January 30 and April 30, include:
Route 37 Improvements. As the second “Cranston Canyon” phase of this massive project progresses toward completion, work is simultaneously beginning on the third and final “right-sizing” phase. This culminating segment will replace or rehabilitate six bridges carrying Route 37 over local roads, arterials and rail lines. Since Route 37 was overbuilt as part of a proposed highway expansion project that was never constructed, the highway corridor is being right-sized for better alignment with today’s transportation needs.
Elmwood Avenue rapid bridge replacement. Using prefabricated slide-in bridge units, RIDOT replaced the I-95 northbound bridge over Elmwood Avenue in Cranston over the course of two weekends. This streamlined process, which was also used to replace the southbound bridge a month prior, saved up to two years of lane closures, shifts and splits associated with other methods.
Tower Hill Road bridge and paving. This $35.8 million project includes replacement of the 55-year-old bridge — carrying Tower Hill Road (US-1) over Route 138 in North Kingstown — along with resurfacing of 6.5 miles of Tower Hill Road from the Route 4 split in North Kingstown to the Oliver Stedman Government Center in South Kingstown. RIDOT used prefabricated slide-in bridge units to complete the replacement over the course of two November weekend closures.
Warwick Corridor Project. This comprehensive project involves the accelerated replacement of two 60-year-old bridges on Route 113, where it passes over I-95 and I-295, carrying approximately up to 33,000 vehicles per day. Route 113 is a major east-west corridor for Warwick, linking large residential and commercial areas, including access to the Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus. Slated for completion by year end, the project includes many safety improvements such as paving, sidewalk work, ADA accessibility, new traffic signal upgrades and new pedestrian crossing features.
Routes 37/295 Cranston Corridor: pouring of concrete deck for flyover bridge.
Route 7 Corridor Project. This $19.9 million paving project will resurface the entirety of Route 7 (Douglas Pike) — which stretches about 15.7 miles from the Providence city line — through North Providence, Smithfield and North Smithfield — ending at Joslin Road in Burrillville.
Douglas Pike and Diamond Hill Road bridges. RIDOT began a $63.5 million project to rapidly replace two large bridges spanning I-295: the Douglas Pike Bridge carrying Route 7 in Smithfield and the Diamond Hill Road Bridge carrying Route 114 in Cumberland. Both bridges will be demolished and replaced during a series of four, 14-day periods this summer and fall — shifting all traffic to one side of the bridge, then the other. The goal is to have all traffic on new structures by the end of 2025.
Washington Bridge project status. The Trump administration has signed and finalized a $221 million federal MEGA/INFRA grant to support the projected $368 million needed for full replacement of the westbound side of the bridge. The State has begun to draw down funds to support preconstruction activities — with a tentative award for the westbound reconstruction expected by early June.
On the eastbound side of the bridge, a weigh-in-motion (WIM) system was installed to help monitor structural health. RIDOT began posting WIM data in March, providing real-time information on overweight trucks crossing the bridge. The system is expected to be fully operational later this year. Detailed project updates and data are posted on the agency’s dedicated Washington Bridge closure webpage at www.washington-bridge.com.
For the most up-to-date information on RIDOT programs and projects, visit:
www.dot.ri.gov/RhodeWorks/
