The purpose of the proposed improvements is to:

• Improve safety for all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles
• Improve safety at the eastern terminus of Route 138
• Increase connectively to downtown Newport
• Support the economic development plan developed by the City of Newport
• Create parcels for development

The Project Needs include:

• Reduce vehicular congestion and queuing on the Pell Bridge
• Improve connectivity between Newport's North End and Downtown areas for all road users
• Reduce traffic in downtown Newport
• Provide bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Spur economic development to create an "Innovation Hub"

The primary components of RIDOT's proposed project include:

• Consolidate and remove existing highway infrastructure
• Provide connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists between Admiral Kalbfus Road and America's Cup Avenue along Newport Secondary corridor
• Provide park & ride and transit opportunity between Pell Bridge Interchange and Gateway Center

How we will build it

The project is divided into two phases:

• Phase 1 ($10.9 million) will focus on the reconstruction of JT Connell Highway and Coddington Highway
• Phase 2 ($74 million) focuses on the ramp interchange itself

Next week at this project, we’ll have temporary lane shifts along JT Connell Highway, from the JT Connell Highway Connector to Van Zandt Avenue, Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will allow us to install curb and sidewalks along its southern section, and to install the new streetlights and corresponding underground utilities, and to replace the existing Van Zandt Avenue/JT Connell Highway/Farewell Street traffic signal. On Sunday and Monday nights, December 3 and 4, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. we’re planning to install new overhead signs. This will require various lane closures on Route 138 East and West, from the Pell Bridge to the JT Connell Highway Connector.