The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has posted the maximum vehicle weight for the Pawtucket River Bridge (Bridge #550) at 18 tons. Also restricted is any single vehicle equipped with more than two axles or any combination vehicle equipped with more than two axles per unit, except emergency vehicles, state vehicles, municipal vehicles, truck tractors and RIPTA vehicles. Restricted vehicles will need to use alternate routes.

What does this mean?

Vehicles restricted from the bridge must follow one of the three recommended detour routes in or around Pawtucket to avoid the bridge. Fixed and variable message signs alert truckers to the posting.

• Trucks traveling through Rhode Island on I-95, and trucks with destinations Attleboro (MA) and north or Warwick (RI) and south should use I-295 to avoid the posted bridge.
• Trucks with destinations in the Providence metropolitan area, or in Rhode Island's East Bay, should use I-295 South to Route 146 South, reconnecting with I-95 in Providence with access to I-195 East.
• Trucks with destinations in Pawtucket will need to use these signed local detours. Detour descriptions:

I-95 Northbound local road detour through Pawtucket: Printable map of I-95 Northbound Truck Detour through Pawtucket I-95 Northbound (Exit 27) Pearl Street to Marrin Street Marrin Street to George Street intersection George Street to left on Grace Street. Grace St. (one-way East) to Division Street (Left Lane) Division Street is now one-way East to the intersection of Prospect Street (No through traffic from Division St. traveling West on the blocks East of Prospect Street; no left onto Division Street from Prospect Street South) Left on Prospect Street to Vernon Street on-ramp to I-95 North I-95 Northbound detour on Pawtucket roads View Larger Map	I-95 Southbound local road detour through Pawtucket: Printable map of I-95 Southbound Truck Detour through Pawtucket I-95 Southbound (Exit 30) on to Roosevelt Avenue Roosevelt Avenue to intersection with Exchange Street Right on Exchange Street to Goff Avenue Goff Avenue to Pine Street Left on Pine Street to intersection of Main Street Right on Main Street to intersection of Garden Street Left on Garden Street to intersection of Cedar Street Right on Cedar Street to I-95 South on-ramp I-95 Southbound detour on Pawtucket roads View Larger Map
Detour for George St onramp to I-95 North. View Larger Map	Division Street Westbound Detour to I-95 Southbound to George Street off-ramp: Prospect Street to School Street School Street intersection with Main Street Right on Main Street to I-95 south on-ramp I-95 South to (Exit 27) George Street off-ramp Division St. View Larger Map
Interactive Detour Routes using Google Earth Google Earth is a free program separate from your (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Firefox, Safari or Opera) internet browser. To download a copy of Google Earth, click here. Directions for using flyover detour maps: Make sure Google Earth is installed. Click on link for desired detour route. Google Earth will load in its own window with detour displayed. If detour route is not shown, make sure there is a check mark in the box next to the detour name. For basic flyover (pausing at directional changes): Select "Play Tour" from Tools menu For streaming flyover (no pauses): Highlight file name with three diamonds in the "Places" window Select "Play Tour" from Tools menu I-95 North Truck Detour Route I-95 South Truck Detour Route George St. On-ramp Closure Detour Route Division St. Westbound Detour Route

What vehicles are affected?

The posting on I-95 does not affect automobiles, SUVs, ambulances, and light trucks traveling on I-95. Buses and school buses may continue to cross the bridge. Heavy vehicles, such as three and four-axle vehicles and most full tractor trailers, must use the alternate routes.  

The posting and truck detours require two detours on local roads in Pawtucket for all vehicles (printable maps)

• Division Street, Pawtucket Westbound Car Detour Route
• George Street On-Ramp Closure Car Detour to I-95 NB Printable map of George Street On-Ramp Closure Car Detour Route

George Street (Northbound) to intersection of Park Place and East Avenue Extension
Right on to East Avenue Extension to East Avenue
Right onto Main Street and then a left onto the Walcott St. on-ramp to I-95 Northbound

Is the bridge safe?

The Pawtucket River Bridge is safe, and the posting restrictions are helping RIDOT ensure that it stays that way.

Repair work has already begun on the Bridge. As part of the repair work, the George Street on-ramp to I-95 North, after Exit 27, is closed to traffic.  This closure will remain in effect until the Pawtucket River Bridge is replaced. 
 
The Pawtucket River Bridge, built in 1958 as part of the original Interstate system, carries traffic over Taft Street and the Pawtucket River, and was built for 60,000 vehicles per day. Today it handles 162,000 vehicles per day.  

The bridge is actually two separate structures.  The bridge is a two girder bridge with cantilever brackets on each side, the only one of its kind on I-95 in Rhode Island.  The bridge is formed by two projecting trusses that are connected in the center, supported by piers, and anchored by counterbalancing members.

RIDOT inspects all of its bridges at least once every two years.  RIDOT has monitored and repaired this bridge consistently since 2002. A full inspection was conducted summer 2006 with additional inspections late this summer.