NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN NOW IN PLACE | LEARN MORE

Providence I-95 Viaduct Northbound

  • RIDOT Centerville Road & Toll Gate Road Bridge Project
    Realignment of Route 146 and I-95 Collector Distributor
  • RIDOT I-95 Viaduct Northbound Project
    I-95 Providence Viaduct Looking North
  • RIDOT Centerville Road & Toll Gate Road Bridge Project
    I-95 Providence Viaduct on-ramps heading North

The Project

This project will replace the 1,295-foot long northbound section of the Providence Viaduct Bridge which carries I-95 over numerous local roads and highway ramps, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Woonasquatucket River. This section of I-95 carries more than 220,000 vehicles per day. It is the busiest section of I-95 in Rhode Island and one of the most heavily trafficked highway bridges on the East Coast.

Construction of the Viaduct Northbound is thanks in large part to the efforts of Rhode Island's Congressional delegation, which secured a $60.3 million federal INFRA grant for the project. Our project includes the construction of a new collector-distributor (C-D) road along the right side of the Interstate. This eliminates the weaving conflicts and congestion that plague the segment of I-95 Northbound from the 6/10 Connector and Downtown on-ramps to the Route 146/State Offices interchange.

We also will reconfigure ramps to disentangle conflicting movements, improving motorist safety and comfort, and reducing congestion and delay. The new ramp system will provide more efficient connections among I-95, the 6/10 Connector, and Route 146. This new configuration will vastly improve the crippling congestion caused by traffic trying to access I-95 northbound from the 6/10 Connector and by traffic trying to exit I-95 to access Route 146 or the state offices.

An earlier design for Providence Viaduct Northbound called for reusing the bridge during construction but the winning proposal by Skanska/Manafort presented a solution that saved a year of time and approximately $1 million.

Project Schedule & Cost

  • Location: Providence
  • Start Construction: 2020
  • Finish Construction: 2025
  • Total Projected Cost: $265 Million
  • Detours Needed: Not at This Time

NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN NOW IN PLACE

ROUTE 146 TRAFFIC EXITING SOONER ONTO NEW SERVICE ROAD

Read the Latest Press Release

A summary of the changes is as follows:

  • I-95 North Through Traffic: Use the two left lanes to remain on I-95. These express lanes will extend over the Providence Viaduct with no exits until the Branch Avenue off-ramp (Exit 39A).
  • I-95 North to Route 146 North: Use the right lane at the newly relocated Exit 38. Once on the new service road, both left lanes will lead onto Route 146 North.
  • I-95 North to State Offices: Use the right lane at the newly relocated Exit 38. Once on the new service road, use the far right lane to take the State Offices exit.
  • Route 6/10 Connector and Downtown to I-95 North: Traffic will enter the new service road and should remain in the right lane. Approaching the State Offices exit, follow the signs to I-95 North.
  • Route 6/10 Connector and Downtown to Route 146 North: Traffic will enter the new service road and use the two left lanes onto Route 146 North.
  • Atwells Ave on-ramp to I-95 North or Route 146 North: Traffic will enter the new service road and should use the two left lanes to access Route 146 North or use the right lane to access I-95 North.

I-95 Viaduct Northbound - New Traffic Pattern

6-10 Ramp to I-95 North

Route 146 North and State Offices Ramp Details

Other Project Highlights

We are not only replacing the Viaduct, but will rebuild 11 bridges in total, many of which are of critical safety concern and will correct the inefficiencies, congestion and safety issues that exist today. Among them:

  • Replacement of the Smith Street Bridge
  • Replacement of the Route 146 Bridge over I-95
  • Building new retaining walls alongside I-95 and Park Street
  • Rebuilding the Atwells Avenue on-ramp to I-95 North
  • Rebuilding the ramp from the Route 6/10 Connector to I-95 North
  • Rebuilding the ramp from Memorial Boulevard to I-95 North

PROJECT UPDATES | MARCH, 2024

We need to close Exits 37 B, C, and D at the I-95 North interchange as needed, Sunday-Thursday nights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. During the closures, we plan to conduct pile driving on I-95 North along Park Street at Hayes Street and the on-ramps from Route 6 East to I-95 North and Memorial Boulevard to I-95 South, plus girder installation for the new on-ramp from Atwells Avenue to I-95 North over Exits 37 B, C and D. The same operations will continue during the day, with alternating lane closures on Charles Street, from Randall Street to Corliss Street, and Ashburton Street, from West River Street to Charles Street, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Overnight pile driving on I-95 North along Park Street at Hayes Street and barrier installation on I-95 South at the Smith Street overpass will also require alternating lane closures on I-95, from Exit 37A to Exit 39A, Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Click here for the latest lane closure information