RIDOT is currently replacing the Pawtucket River Bridge, which carries I-95 between Exits 27 and 28.

Replacement of this bridge is a high priority for the Department. A total of nine bridges will be rehabilitated as part of this $81 million project.

RIDOT is building the bridge in phases. This will allow for the bridge's reconstruction with minimal impact to highway traffic and no reduction in travel lanes throughout the life of the project.

The Department has worked closely with the City of Pawtucket to examine any wear and tear to city streets as a result of local truck detours and make repairs as needed.

Recent Activities

RIDOT opened the second of three highway structures on September 15, 2012. This is a significant milestone that allowed the Department to fully lift the bridge's 18-ton weight limit. This structure, built to carry I-95 Northbound traffic, is temporarially hosting I-95 South traffic. In April 2012, RIDOT opened the first of the three new highway structures, allowing the Department to eliminate the weight limit for I-95 North.

Work continues on other bridges near the Pawtucket River Bridge. RIDOT currently has closed sections of Taft Street and Pleasant Street where they pass under the highway bridge. These will remain closed for the remainder of the project.

What's next?

Now that traffic has been shifted from the old I-95 South bridge, RIDOT will focus its attention on demolition and reconstruction of a new highway bridge in the same footprint. That bridge is scheduled to open in Summer 2013. The entire sequence of highway bridge construction is as follows:

Date(s)	Milestone
Fall 2010 - Spring 2012	Build a new bridge to the south of the existing two spans of the Pawtucket River Bridge
Spring 2012	Shift I-95 northbound traffic to the new bridge
Spring 2012 - Fall 2012	Demolish and rebuild the original I-95 North bridge
Fall 2012	Shift I-95 southbound traffic to the new I-95 North bridge
Winter 2013 - Summer 2013	Demolish and rebuild the original I-95 South bridge
Summer 2013	Shift all highway traffic bridges to their permanent locations
Summer 2013	Use the first bridge opened as a collector/distributor road for on-ramp traffic from George Street and off-ramp traffic at Exit 28 (School Street).

When the final highway bridge is completed, RIDOT will shift traffic patterns to their final configuration. The first bridge opened in April 2012 will remain in service as a collector/distributor road for access to I-95 North from George Street and Exit 28 (School Street).

In late 2013, at the conclusion of the project, RIDOT will reopen the closed segments of Taft and Pleasant streets.

Learn More

• Read more about the impact of construction on city streets, get turn-by-turn directions and download detour maps
• Check the weekly Community Update for up-to-date construction activities, traffic impacts and other information
• View a slideshow of recent construction activities
• View design images for the new Pawtucket River Bridge

Press Release Archive

• November 4, 2010 - Project Groundbreaking Event
• December 3, 2010 - Taft Steet Closure
• December 13, 2010 - Grace Street Closure
• February 14, 2011 - Pleasant Street Closure
• May 10, 2011 - Additional City Street Closures
• June 8, 2011 - Overnight Interstate Closures
• September 8, 2011 - School Street Exit Closure
• October 17, 2011 - Steel Arch Construction Begins
• November 4, 2011 - School Street Exit Reopens
• February 27, 2012 - Deck Construction Begins
• April 4, 2012 - School Street Exit Closure
• April 19, 2012 - Opening of First Bridge to I-95 North Traffic
• June 5, 2012 - Reopening of Garden Street Bridge
• July 9, 2012 - Temporary closure I-95 North during early morning hours
• June 17, 2012 - Accelerated schedule saves two days of I-95 North overnight closures
• September 12, 2012 - RIDOT to lift weight limit from I-95 South in Pawtucket
• September 21, 2012 - George Street returns to two-way traffic