DEC. 16, 2023 UPDATE:
CITY HALL is closed due to the power outage.
Dec. 15, 2023 UPDATE:
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) early this morning opened two bypass lanes for I-195 West traffic from East Providence to Providence. This temporary traffic pattern will allow two lanes of travel westbound and two lanes of travel eastbound – all operating on the eastbound Washington Bridge.
RIDOT will reopen most ramps that had been closed. However, the Gano Street off-ramp (Exit 1D) will remain closed as will the on-ramps to I-195 West from Veterans Memorial Parkway, Taunton Avenue and Warren Avenue. RIDOT will continue to maintain passage on the westbound bridge for emergency vehicles only.
With the bypass lane opens, RIDOT expects it will help alleviate congestion but there will still be delays. Motorists may continue to find one detour route or the other more effective for them. As traffic becomes accustomed to the change with the bypass lanes open, RIDOT expects congestion levels to even out and create more predictable traffic flow and travel times.
RIDOT has posted estimated travel times for each detour route on the Washington Bridge closure page at www.ridot.net/WashingtonBridgeClosure and will update this information continuously.
The following recommended detours and alternate routes may be used:
Local traffic in East Providence: Use the Henderson Bridge and rejoin I-195 West at Gano Street.
Southeast Massachusetts west of Fall River, MA: Take Massachusetts Exit 1 and follow Route 114A to Route 44 West. Follow onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue) or Route 1A (Newport Avenue) to I-95. This is the preferred routes for trucks.
Southeast Massachusetts east of Fall River, MA (including traffic coming from Cape Cod and the New Bedford Area): Take Massachusetts Exit 14B to Route 24 North. Follow to I-495 North to I-95.
The Washington Bridge carries 96,000 vehicles daily.
Dec. 13, 2023 UPDATE:
Beginning immediately and during the time that it takes to make the repairs and reopen the westbound side, travelers are asked to take the marked detour routes which are:
Local traffic in East Providence: Take Exit 2 to Broadway. Follow detour signs to the Henderson Bridge and rejoin I-195 West at Gano Street.
Southeast Massachusetts west of Fall River, MA: Take Massachusetts Exit 1 and follow Route 114A. Follow onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue) or Route 1A (Newport Avenue) to I-95. This is the preferred routes for trucks.
Southeast Massachusetts east of Fall River, MA (including traffic coming from Cape Cod and the New Bedford Area): Take Massachusetts Exit 14B to Route 24 North. Follow to I-495 North to I-95.
For ALL Bridge Closure Project information please visit: https://www.dot.ri.gov/projects/WashingtonBridgeClosure/index.php
ZOOM for BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY WASHINGTON BRIDGE CLOSURE:
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Dec 13, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Local Businesses-Traffic
Register in advance for this webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fY1b6XE2SMuvUK9q9z-fag
We want to know how to reach you! Register your business information here: https://forms.office.com/g/XUTRCuVGiz
Dec. 12, 2023 UPDATE: If you are an East Providence business impacted by the Washington Bridge closure, please read more here and fill out the form.
– TRAVEL ADVISORY –
RIDOT TEMPORARILY CLOSES WASHINGTON BRIDGE WESTBOUND
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has closed the westbound side of the Washington Bridge due to the finding of a critical failure of some bridge components. These particular components are part of the original Washington Bridge which was built in 1968.
They were uncovered during the reconstruction of the Washington Bridge. Initially, all the westbound lanes will be closed and traffic diverted to alternate routes. In the next two to three weeks RIDOT will move traffic to two lanes on the eastbound side at which time permanent repairs will begin on the westbound side.
This will require a closure of two lanes on I-195 East in the area of Exit 1A (India Street) starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, December 12. Depending on the severity of what RIDOT finds in its initial work, the repair could take three months or more. RIDOT has alerted emergency vehicle operators and officials in the adjoining cities and towns.
Director Peter Alviti said, “In the process of reconstructing the Washington Bridge, our consultants found urgent safety issues that could cause a critical deficiency on this side of the bridge. We are closing the westbound side until we can make it completely safe.”
Beginning immediately and during the time that it takes to make the repairs and reopen the westbound side, travelers are asked to take the marked detour routes which are:
Local traffic in East Providence: Take Exit 2 to Broadway. Follow detour signs to the Henderson Bridge and rejoin I-195 West at Gano Street.
Southeast Massachusetts west of Fall River, MA: Take Massachusetts Exit 1 and follow Route 114A. Follow onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue) or Route 1A (Newport Avenue) to I-95.
This is the preferred routes for trucks. Southeast Massachusetts east of Fall River, MA (including traffic coming from Cape Cod and the New Bedford Area): Take Massachusetts Exit 14B to Route 24 North. Follow to I-495 North to I-95. The Washington Bridge carries 96,000 vehicles daily. The total construction cost for the Washington Bridge project is $78 million.
McKee Administration Update on the Washington Bridge Closure
