HISTORY OF THE ROUTE 6/10 PROJECT

The Route 6/10 Reconstruction Design-Build Project is currently the largest Design-Build Project in Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) history. The 6/10 interchange is located just west of downtown Providence in an area of Providence known as Olneyville It serves as a critical east-west regional link for automobile and truck traffic between Interstates 295, 95 and 195. Nearly 100,000 trips are made through the truck of the interchange each day with two thirds of those trips originating or destined for points outside of Providence.

The Route 6/10 interchange has fallen into a state of disrepair with seven of its nine bridge structures rated structurally deficient. In addition to replacing the bridges and ramps of the interchange itself, this project will also address existing bridges serving local streets that are integrated into the interchange due to their proximity and grades. All will be brought into a state of good repair. The project also includes construction of a "missing move" from Route 10 north to Route 6 west. The creation of this missing move will serve to reduce or eliminate through traffic from the streets of Olneyville, thereby improving pedestrian safety in the community.

The existing system of highways and ramps comprising the interchange was originally constructed in the 1950s as a bypass around Olneyville, which at the time was a distinct urban center in the western section of Providence. Due to steady growth in automobile traffic and increase reliance on heavy trucking for freight, many elements of the interchange soon failed to meet emerging highway safety and serviceability standards. The problem became worse as additional regional highway connections were made with Route 10 and Route 6 (former RI-195) in the 1960s and 1970s. Most all of the now functionally obsolete elements of the interchange (including insufficient merging lengths and curve radii, unusual and substandard on- and off-ramp configurations, and other deficiencies) persist to this day.

In recent years many of the structural elements of the interchange have fallen further into disrepair, requiring extensive shoring, bracing and other interim support measures on infrastructure in critical condition in order to meet safety and load requirements for the facility to remain in service. RIDOT recently completed a $5-million repair contract for work on these bridges, which consisted of repairs to the temporary shoring and bracing erected several years ago as a "bandage" to the problem.

The Project

The Route 6/10 Interchange Reconstruction project would reconstruct the entire interchange within the existing highway ROW, while replacing or removing the seven structurally deficient bridges within the project study area the Project plan highlights include:

• The Huntington Viaduct (Route 10 southbound) would be removed and the roadway lowered to approximately the grade of Route 10 northbound and below reconstructed bridges carrying Westminster Street and Broadway.
• A direct connection to provide the missing move from Route 10 northbound to Route 6 westbound by construction of a flyover ramp, improving regional traffic flow and reducing local traffic congestion in Olneyville.
• Replace the Tobey Street on-ramp with a new two-way connection between Tobey Street and Harris Avenue that would enhance access across the highway at this location. A new Harris Avenue connection to either Route 6 westbound or Route 10 southbound (including a new one way westerly service road) would address traffic weaving issues at the existing on-ramp.
• Construct new bridge crossings over the highway for Westminster Street, Broadway, and Harris Avenue/Tobey Street. The roadways would be wider boulevards that would include new, multi-use paths providing separate, safe routes for pedestrians and bicyclists. These new crossings combined with replacing the existing Huntington Viaduct with a depressed roadway would substantially reduce the existing highway barrier to connectivity between the neighborhoods of Olneyville to the west and Federal Hill and West End to the east.
• New bicycle/pedestrian paths extending through the project area from Union Street to Tobey Street that would enhance connectivity between area neighborhoods and provide a substantial portion of a connection between the Woonasquatucket River Bikeway and Washington Secondary Bike Path.
• Better local traffic circulation and improved access.
• Gateway aesthetics: Additional measures would be taken for landscaping and visual improvements