Travel Advisory: Weekend Overnight I-95 Closures Scheduled to Begin October 2 in Providence and Cranston

Starting Friday night, October 16, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is scheduled to begin a series of weekend overnight closures of I-95 at the Route 10 (Exit 33) interchange in Cranston and Providence. The schedule varies with full and partial closures, and some ramps to and from Route 10 also be closed. The closures are necessary for demolition work over the highway. The current schedule calls for three consecutive weekends of overnight closures.

During the closures, RIDOT strongly advises motorists to seek alternate routes, such as I-295 and Route 10, to avoid delays and extended travel times. To minimize the impact as much as possible, RIDOT chose weekend (Fridays and Saturdays) late night and overnight hours for the closures when traffic volumes are lowest. Lane closures may begin after 10 p.m. and any full closures would not start until midnight. The highway will be fully open by 7 a.m. the next day. RIDOT estimates delays of 15-20 minutes on the detour routes, with the greatest travel times occurring during the morning before lanes reopen.

The work includes demolition of bridge parapet walls alongside both directions of Route 10. Steel safety barriers have already been erected to protect vehicles after the parapet sections are removed. RIDOT is completely rebuilding this interchange.

A summary of the upcoming closures, local detours and expected schedules is as follows:

October 16 & 17

I-95 South and North: Up to two lanes closed by 10 p.m. At midnight, all lanes will be closed. I-95 South will reopen by 5 a.m.; I-95 North will reopen by 7 a.m. Suggested detours are as follows:

� I-95 South Detour: Take Exit 33B to Route 10 North. Take Exit 2A to Reservoir Avenue. Turn right at the end of the ramp then left onto the ramp to Route 10 South to reach the ramp to I-95 South. � I-95 North Detour: Take Exit 33A to Route 10 North toward Providence. Drivers also can use Exit 33B to Elmwood Avenue, turn left, then right to use the on-ramp to Route 10 North to reach the ramp to I-95 North.

Route 10 Ramps: The following ramps will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.:

� Route 10 South to I-95 North: Take I-95 South to Exit 31C (Jefferson Boulevard), turn left, then left again onto the ramp to I-95 North. � Route 10 North to I-95 South: Take Exit 2A to Reservoir Avenue, turn right, then turn left onto the ramp to Route 10 North to reach the ramp to I-95 South. � I-95 South to Route 10 South: Take Exit 33B to Route 10 North. Take Exit 2A to Reservoir Avenue. Turn right at the end of the ramp then left onto the ramp to Route 10 South.

October 23 & 24

I-95 South: Up to two lanes closed by 10 p.m. At midnight, all lanes will be closed. I-95 South will reopen by 7 a.m. To detour, take Exit 33B to Route 10 North. Take Exit 2A to Reservoir Avenue. Turn right at the end of the ramp then left onto the ramp to Route 10 South to reach the ramp to I-95 South.

I-95 North: Only the two left lanes will be closed.

Route 10 Ramps: The same ramps will be closed as described above from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.for the October 16 & 17 timeframe.

October 30 & 31

I-95 South: Up to two lanes closed by 10 p.m. At midnight, three lanes will be closed.

I-95 North: No lanes will be closed.

Route 10 Ramps: The same ramps will be closed as described above from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the October 16 & 17 timeframe.

Detour maps for I-95 closures are available at www.ridot.net/detourmaps.

RIDOT will conduct other ramp closures for demolition work on Sunday through Thursday nights from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m. Detailed closure information, including any schedule updates, will be maintained at www.ridot.net/TravelAdvisories.

These improvements are part of the I-95 15 Bridges project, which is removing 15 bridges from the state's backlog of poor and fair to poor condition bridges along I-95 and Route 10 between Providence and Warwick. Nine of the 15 bridges are structurally deficient. Three are rated among the top five most traveled structurally deficient bridges in Rhode Island. At the Huntington Viaduct, RIDOT is redesigning the entire interchange of Route 10 with I-95. More details are available at www.ridot.net/The-I-95-15.

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