The Project

Improvements to Route 37 will be made in two separate projects that will rehabilitate or replace 22 bridges and make safety and congestion improvements in this critical east-west freeway in central Rhode Island, linking the cities of Cranston and Warwick, major retail, office and residential areas, Interstate highways and Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. With a daily traffic count of 42,000 vehicles, Route 37 is one of the state's busiest corridors.

Built in the 1960s, this freeway’s bridges are now deteriorating under increasing vehicular volumes and freight demands. Almost half of the Route 37 bridges are classified as being in poor condition.

We are grateful for the efforts of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation in securing a $20 million TIGER grant for Phase 1 and a $21 million BUILD grant for Phase 2 to make these improvements possible.

Phase 1 – Bridge Group 51A

The first project is underway now, and involves preservation, major rehabilitation, and/or reconstruction of 15 bridge structures between Route 1 (Post Road) in Warwick and the Pontiac Avenue interchange in Cranston. Six of these bridges are structurally deficient. Four of them will be replaced and the other two will be rehabilitated.

Our project also includes safety improvements at the Pontiac Avenue interchange from Route 37 West, widening the highway and ramps to eliminate chronic congestion and improve safety.

Phase 2 – Bridge Group 51B and the Cranston Canyon

The second contract will rebuild six bridges and build one new bridge along the Route 37 corridor west of Pontiac Avenue in Cranston. But it also will make a number of improvements to improve safety and reduce congestion at the interchange of Route 37 and I-295 and along I-295 itself in the section commonly known as “Cranston Canyon” because of the rocky walls along the highway. These include:

• Creating a third lane at I-295 North with new pavement and minor widening, which will work as an auxiliary lane from Route 37 heading north
• Extending this auxiliary lane northbound to the Route 6 interchange in Johnston
• Shifting the ramp from Route 37 East to I-295 North from the high-speed lane to the right lane, improving safety and reducing conflicting movements
• Repositioning the ramp from I-295 North to Route 37 West to eliminate a conflicting weave
• Widening the ramp from Route 37 West to I-295 North to improve sight lines and reduce crashes

Phase 3 – Route 37 Right Size

The project will replace and rehabilitate six bridges carrying Route 37 over local roads, arterials, and rail lines, as well as right-sizing the highway corridor to ensure it meets Rhode Island’s transportation needs today, as Route 37 was overbuilt as part of a proposed highway expansion project that was never constructed.

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