EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Those who commute through East Providence should expect to see some traffic delays Monday as work continues on the East Shore Expressway.
The bridge that carries the expressway over Warren Avenue was demolished over the weekend and its replacement has been moved into place.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation shut down the entire expressway – which carries traffic between I-195 and the Wampanoag Trail – on Friday night so crews could begin work.
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Exit 7 off I-195 East and a section of Warren Avenue also remain closed Monday as work continues on the bridge. The following detours are in place:
Warren Avenue Closure Westbound Detour:
- Right on Warren Avenue/County Street Eastbound, toward Route 114A
- Left on Waterman Avenue
- Left on Pawtucket Avenue
- Right on Warren Avenue
Warren Avenue Closure Eastbound Detour:
- Left on Pawtucket Avenue
- Right on Waterman Avenue
- Right on Warren Avenue
- Left on Route 6 Eastbound
East Shore Expressway Southbound Closure Detour:
- Take Exit 6 off of I-195 Eastbound
- Left on Warren Avenue
- Right on Pawtucket Avenue
- Left on Wampanoag Trail
- Right onto Route 114 Southbound toward Wampanoag Trail
RIDOT used an accelerated technique to replace the “functionally obsolete” bridge, building the new one in a vacant lot nearby and moving it into place once the old one was removed.
“It’s always exciting to be able to do something innovative and so that’s something we’re continuing to do on all of our projects,” said RIDOT Manager of Project Management Joseph Baker. “Look at the best way to put these things together so that it goes together well and there’s little impact to the public, as well.”
The entire project is slated to last 80 hours, meaning work is scheduled to wrap up Tuesday morning. If all goes according to plan, RIDOT will reopen all of the closed roadways at 5 a.m.See progress of the East Shore Expressway construction project on RIDOT’s website.
