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.
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:
Construction began in spring 2021 and will provide benefits to motorists in the near term, well ahead of the final project completion date of summer 2025. The initial phase involved demolition of the old bridge segment which originally carried I-95 South traffic. Construction of the new bridge to carry I-95 North is ongoing and we expect to shift traffic onto it in the fall of 2022.
Another major milestone will be the opening of the new C/D road to handle on and off ramp traffic for State Offices, the 6/10 Connector and Route 146. That will happen in late 2023.
| Complete portion of new Viaduct Bridge, and shift traffic to begin demolition of the current bridge. |
| Completed bridge preservation work on the Atwells Avenue and Park Street Bridges, while continuing work on Ashburton Street and Charles Street bridges. |
| Complete new 146 Northbound bridge over I-95. |
| Erect steel for southern half of Smith Street Bridge and prepare for deck placement. |
| Continue new Park Street retaining wall construction and demolish remainder of old wall. |
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Motorists are now following a new traffic pattern on I-95 North with the high-speed lane on the new bridge. Various ramps will be closed within the I-95 South Exit 37 (old Exit 22) interchange for overnight abutment work at the Atwells Avenue Bridge. Follow signed detours. Overnight alternating lane closures on I-95 from Exits 37A (old Exit 21) to Exit 39A (old Exit 24) for median drainage and pavement work are also scheduled. |
| Click here for the latest lane closure information |