Travel Advisory: Demolition of The Potter Street Bridge in East Providence Requires Overnight Closure of I-195 on November 6

RHODE ISLAND, October 16 - Starting on Friday night, November 6 at 10 p.m., the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is scheduled to close I-195 in both directions near the Taunton Avenue exit in East Providence. The closure is necessary for the safe demolition of the Potter Street Bridge as part of the Washington Bridge rebuild project. The full closure is expected to last approximately 12 hours, with some lanes reopening by 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 7 and all lanes reopening by noon.

The Potter Street Bridge will be rebuilt over the next 12–18 months to accommodate a wider highway corridor with additional travel lanes on I-195 West. Once complete, the project will provide four continuous westbound travel lanes between the Broadway interchange and the Washington Bridge, along with a fifth lane leading to a new off-ramp at Waterfront Drive. These improvements are expected to help alleviate longstanding congestion on I-195 West, which has historically caused traffic to back up toward the Massachusetts state line.

The closure is necessary to expedite the demolition and limit the overall impact on interstate traffic and the local community. The design of the Potter Street Bridge is such that phased demolition would require the installation of bracing supports and various lane closures which would impact traffic over a much longer period of time than this single closure event.

Motorists are strongly advised to seek alternate routes during the closure period. RIDOT suggests drivers plan ahead and defer any unnecessary travel during the closure period. For those who need to travel along I-195 during these hours, RIDOT is taking several steps to provide local detours. This includes a dedicated route for emergency vehicles.

Local Impacts & Detours

RIDOT will be making temporary changes to the traffic pattern on Warren Avenue between the off-ramp from I-195 East to Warren Avenue, near the Comedy Connection, to the on-ramp to I-195 East, near S. County Street and Sip'N Dip Donuts, to accommodate detouring traffic. The changes on Warren Avenue and nearby streets are as follows:

• Local traffic will be temporarily restricted from crossing Warren Avenue. RIDOT and local and State police will provide assistance at these crossings. Only Pawtucket Avenue or Waterfront Drive will be available for north-south travel across Warren Avenue.

• On-street parking will not be permitted on this section of Warren Avenue.

• The center of the road will be utilized for any emergency vehicle travel.• Traffic will not be permitted to turn onto Warren Avenue westbound from Pawtucket Avenue.

• Broadway will be closed between Freeborn Avenue and Warren Avenue.

• Three on-ramps will be closed to I-195 West: from Warren Avenue westbound at the East Shore Expressway, from Pawtucket Avenue northbound or southbound and from Broadway southbound.

The Department is making temporary connections from the currently closed Warren Avenue on-ramp so it can be used to assist detouring traffic coming from Warren Avenue to I-195 West. Emergency vehicles also will have access to this ramp from Taunton Avenue and Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Interstate Impacts & Detours

The full closure will begin at 10 p.m. Lane closures may begin after 8 p.m. leading up to the closure time. The following local detours will be used for any traffic on the Interstate during the closure period:

• I-195 East: Take Exit 1D (Warren Avenue). Turn left at the end of the ramp and follow Warren Avenue. In approximately 1 mile, turn left onto the on-ramp to return to I-195 East. Note: Exits 1B and 1C for Veterans Memorial Parkway and Taunton Avenue, respectively, will remain open.

• I-195 West: Take Exit 2 (Broadway). Turn left at the end of the ramp then turn right onto Warren Avenue. In approximately ¾ of a mile, turn right onto the on-ramp toward I-195 West, which is being temporarily opened to be used for this detour.

Potter Street Detours

During the Potter Street Bridge closure period, drivers should use the adjacent Purchase Street Bridge to cross over I-195. This will require approximately 1 extra minute of travel time between Warren Avenue and Cobb Street. Pedestrians can follow a shorter detour using School Street, Purchase Street and Freeborn Street. RIDOT expects to reopen the new Potter Street Bridge in summer 2028.

All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.

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