DOT begins Iway noise reduction project

Nearly one year after the Rhode Island Department of Transportation opened the Iway's final ramp, RIDOT has begun a new project to reduce the noise that the highway's concrete surfaces make.

As part of the review of the new highway and its environmental impact, RIDOT determined that the reduced congestion and increased speeds associated with free-flowing traffic have increased noise levels in the Iway corridor, specifically on the concrete pavements.

The Iway's elevated concrete ramps and bridges have shallow grooves designed to provide traction and facilitate drainage. They run perpendicular to the direction of traffic.

Crews will machine these surfaces to change the direction of the grooves so they will run in the same direction as traffic.

The Department of Transportation tells Eyewitness News that this project will cost $776,000 and the money is included in this year's budget.

RIDOT conferred with other departments of transportation around the country that have been dealing with similar noise concerns from concrete highway pavements. Instead of building expensive sound walls which are not always effective and could obstruct views, RIDOT opted to pursue the machining operation.

In addition to reducing highway noise, this operation also helps smooth the driving surface and improves rideability. The method RIDOT is using is identical to the recent treatment by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to improve the riding surface on the Pell Bridge in Newport.

Also as part of this project, RIDOT will be machining the surface of the eastbound lanes of the Washington Bridge, which also have a concrete riding surface.

Lane closures on 195 and the ramp and bridge structures connecting the Iway to and from 95 began Sunday. The work is scheduled to take place on Sunday through Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through mid-Fall 2012.

One lane may be closed on these nights beginning at 9 p.m., two lanes after 10 p.m. and up to three lanes after midnight when traffic is lightest. All lanes of travel will be reopened prior to the morning commute, and no work is planned on weekends or holidays.