R.I. Government Agencies | Privacy Policy |
Background information on the the Iway (I-195 Relocation) project.
Why is it called the Iway? (I-195 Relocation) project.
Latest project overview map (pdf)
Motorists traveling I-195 West will encounter the split for I-95 North and South much sooner than they did before. The new split is located just west of the Washington Bridge. RIDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead where they intend to go and move to the left lanes for I-95 South and the right lanes for I-95 North well ahead of the new split.
To avoid confusion and limit congestion caused by sudden lane changes, drivers should be in the appropriate lanes before they cross over the Washington Bridge. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the highway and it's too late, continue driving to alternate routes. Still uncertain about lane choice? Click here.
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A number of media outlets produced drive-through videos that offer a driver's-eye view of the latest changes.
| Left Lanes | Right Lanes |
| To I-95 South | To I-95 North |
R.I. Hospitals Complex via Exit 18 |
Exit 3 (Gano St.) |
| Future ramp: R.I. Hospitals Complex via Exit 1B | Exit 2 (South Main St.) |
| Exit/Ramp | Change |
| Exit 3 (Gano Street) | Right-hand exit remains as-is |
On-ramp from Gano Street to I-195 West |
Access only to old I-195 and I-95 North |
| Exit 2 (South Main Street) | Access only from old-195 (right lanes) |
| On-ramp from Wickenden Street to I-195 West | Access only to old I-195 and I-95 North |
| On-ramp from Dorrance Street to I-95 South | Access only to old I-195 and I-95 North |
| I-95 Exit 19 (Eddy Street) from I-195 West | Not possible; use Exit 18 instead to Thurbers Avenue and follow detour |
Missed your exit?
Do not stop, back up or weave suddenly across lanes. Keep driving straight. Both of these "if you missed it" detours are only about two miles long:
| I wanted to... | But I drove on... | What do I do? |
| Take I-95 North | The Iway toward I-95 South | Use Exit 18 (Thurbers Avenue) to reverse direction. At the end of the ramp, turn left, pass underneath the highway overpass, and take an immediate left onto the ramp to I-95 North. |
Take I-95 South |
Old I-195 West toward I-95 North | Use Exit 22B to Route 10 South, which leads to I-95 at Exit 16, which has ramps to both I-95 North and South. |
Take I-95 South to R.I. Hospital |
Old I-195 West toward I-95 North | Take Exit 2 to South Water Street. Turn left onto James Street, left onto South Water Street and right onto Point Street. At Davol Square, turn left onto Eddy Street and follow to hospitals area. |
| Take I-95 South from the Gano Street on-ramp | Old I-195 West toward I-95 North | Follow I-95 North to Exit 22B to Route 10 South, which leads to I-95 at Exit 16, which has ramps to both I-95 North and South. Alternate route: Take the College Hill detour (see link above). |
| Take Exit 2 (South Main Street) | The Iway toward I-95 South | Use Exit 18 to reverse direction to I-95 North (see above). Take Exit 19 to I-195 East then Exit 2 to India St. Turn left toward Gano Street or right toward South Water Street. Alternate route: Take Exit 22A and follow Memorial Boulevard and cross over the river at Waterman, College or Delta streets. |
| Take I-95 South from the Dorrance Street on-ramp | Old I-195 West toward I-95 North | Continue past on-ramp onto Eddy Street. Follow through Davol Square, then turn left onto Allens Avenue. Turn right onto Blackstone Street and use temporary on-ramp to I-95 South. |
Next year, motorists on I-195 West will be able to access the hospitals campus via a ramp from the Iway to Eddy Street. Until that opens, motorists will be directed to use Exit 18 ( Thurbers Avenue ) and use Allens Avenue to Public Street to Eddy Street .
The proximity of the new split to the Taunton Avenue on-ramp, and the high volume of traffic on I-195 West, will make it difficult for motorists entering the highway at this point to move into the left lanes to take the Iway to I-95 South. RIDOT encourages motorists in East Providence to use the Taunton Avenue on-ramp for I-95 North only. If motorists leaving East Providence wish to access I-95 South, getting on the highway at the Pawtucket Avenue on-ramp affords them more time to move to the left lanes.
Ramps and exits close to old I-195 afforded quick highway access when leaving the city. The relocation of I-195 means that many of the exits and on-ramps will be closed or new exits will be open to provide alternate access. During this phase of the Iway project, those in the Downcity, Jewelry District or Courthouse areas have two options. They can use Memorial Boulevard to the highway interchange next to Providence Place Mall. Additionally, they can also follow Eddy Street south to Allens Avenue and turn right onto Blackstone Street to access a temporary on-ramp to I-95 South. Detouring traffic will result in more traffic in the Davol Square area.
Those leaving the East Side for I-95 South will no longer be able to use the Wickenden Street or Gano Street on-ramps since those only provide access to old I-195, which only leads to I-95 North. Motorists should cross over the Point Street Bridge and turn left at Davol Square onto Eddy Street. Follow Eddy Street south to Allens Avenue and turn right onto Blackstone Street to access a temporary on-ramp to I-95 South. Motorists leaving the East Side can also make use of Steeple Street or College Street to reach Memorial Boulevard, which leads to a highway interchange next to Providence Place Mall. Detouring traffic will result in more traffic in the Davol Square area.
Prior to the Washington Bridge, there are three travel lanes heading west. Once on the Washington Bridge, motorists gain a fourth lane. This allows an even division of lanes at the new split, with the two left lanes for I-95 South and the two right lanes for I-95 North. When there are only three lanes, motorists heading for I-95 South should be in the left lane while those heading to I-95 North should use the right lane. The center lane allows motorists to be in position to choose left lanes or right lanes on the bridge. Getting in the correct lanes before and after the Washington Bridge will help reduce last-minute lane changes that could result in a crash and cause increased congestion for motorists behind you. Lane choice on the three-lane portion of I-195 West in East Providence can be viewed similarly to the old I-195 split which was only three lanes wide.
RIDOT must phase-in the opening of I-195 West because of work still remaining on I-95. This includes demolition of the old I-95 South to I-195 East and I-195 West to I-95 South overpasses, continued construction in the center of I-95, shifting the alignment of I-95 itself, and other work. The last major highway segment, I-195 West to I-95 North, is expected to open in late 2009.