The Route 146 project, designed to eliminate one of the most active crash sites in Rhode Island, has made great strides since work first started in 2022. In April of this year, RIDOT completed the construction of one lane southbound on the new flyover bridge at the Sayles Hill Road intersection providing one lane in each direction on the flyover. For now, the other southbound travel lane remains at ground level but eventually two lanes in each direction will be able to bypass the traffic signal.
The traffic signal at Sayles Hill Road has been adjusted to ensure that the intersection functions at maximum efficiency.
The Route 146 Improvement Project will replace multiple bridges, repave 8 miles of road and eliminate congestion at the intersection of Sayles Hill Road and Route 146. Approximately 171,000 vehicles use Route 146 daily.
Thanks to the efforts of Rhode Island's Congressional delegation, RIDOT secured a $65 million USDOT INFRA Grant to help fund the project. Learn more: 2020 INFRA Grant Application Narrative: Route 146 Improvements
Route 146 a critical transportation route that has gone unimproved for far too long. Other highlights of the project include:
| Estimated Travel Times |
| Safety and Congestion Improvements Map |
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Tomorrow night, Saturday, June 14, at 9 p.m., through noontime on Sunday, June 15, we’re scheduled to lift and place steel beams as part of ongoing construction of our new flyover bridge at Sayles Hill Road. The intersection of Route 146 at Sayles Hill Road will be closed as will the west side of Sayles Hill Road, from Route 146 to Iron Mine Hill Road. Left turns will not be permitted to/from Route 146 North and South to/from Sayles Hill Road, and no traffic will be allowed beneath the bridge. The southbound service road, from the Ski Shop to the Rustic Drive in, will also be closed at this time. Next week, alternating lane closures or a full road closure are scheduled for bridge construction on Route 146, from Exit 7 (Route 116) to Exit 8C (Route 99), Sunday-Wednesday nights from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. Bridge construction will involve the closure of the Route 146 South Service Road, from the Ski Shop to Sayles Hill Road, and restrict left turns from both directions of Route 146 to Sayles Hill Road and any traffic under the bridge, Sunday-Wednesday nights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Local access will be maintained, but drivers are advised to follow the signed detours during all closures. |
| Click here for the latest lane closure information |