Gano Street Off-Ramp to Remain Open for “Foreseeable Future,” Says RI Dept. of Transportation
Wednesday, April 01, 2020
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that the Gano Street off-ramp on I-195 will stay open as part of the plans for the Washington Bridge reconstruction project -- and will remain open for the foreseeable future.
RIDOT will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Washington Bridge rehabilitation design/build project in the coming week. The bridge is classified as structurally deficient and must be rehabilitated, according to RIDOT.
“Washington Bridge has to be rehabilitated," said RIDOT Director Peter Alviti. "While we are doing this work, we need to make sure that as the rebuilding goes on, we are doing it in such a way that we will clear up as many traffic jams as we can. Our studies showed that keeping the ramp open will not cause traffic problems.”
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The decision to keep the ramp open comes after RIDOT conducted three in-depth traffic studies to examine the potential impacts of keeping the ramp open or closing it permanently, according to RIDOT.
The studies analyzed traffic patterns on I-195 and local streets in East Providence and Providence in the vicinity of the Washington Bridge. The studies indicated that the existing Gano Street off-ramp can remain open while the Washington Bridge reconstruction still achieves a marked reduction in chronic traffic congestion on I-195 West.
Pre-construction activity on the Washington Bridge is scheduled to start this year with a contract awarded this summer. RIDOT has secured a $25 million grant through the work of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation to support this $70 million design/build project. The grant obliges RIDOT to start work in a timely manner. RIDOT will remain in constant contact with the Rhode Island Department of Health regarding the most up-to-date public health guidance and proper protections for workers when construction begins on this project.
In addition to rehabilitating the bridge, the project design includes an additional through lane to better accommodate mainline highway traffic and the high volume of traffic entering the highway from Veterans Memorial Parkway, Warren Avenue and Taunton Avenue. A new exit in East Providence will provide a direction connection to Waterfront Drive, a major area for future economic development on the East Providence waterfront.
Scheduling will be coordinated with improvements at the Henderson Bridge to minimize traffic disruptions for both highway and local traffic. The Henderson Bridge design includes a direct connection to Waterfront Drive. Together the two projects will improve access to the East Side of Providence.
Work on the Henderson Bridge is expected to begin this summer and will take approximately four years. It represents another $88.5 million investment in the area, which includes $54.5 million of federal funds as part of a new spending law authored by Senator Jack Reed.
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