DOT says traffic flows faster thanks to new ramp to 195
11:19 AM Thu, Jan 15, 2009 | Permalink
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By Bruce Landis PROVIDENCE -- The recently opened ramp from Route 95 southbound to Route 195 has reduced travel time and increased average speeds, the state Department of Transportation said this morning. The new ramp, opened a month ago, replaced a left exit from Route 95 with a right exit, a new Exit 20, eliminating a sometimes-confusing situation near downtown. The ramp is part of the DOT's biggest construction project, the relocation of a section of Route 195 and construction of the new arch bridge over the Providence River. It completes the links with Route 195 eastbound. The DOT said it measured travel times and speed from Exit 26 (Lonsdale Avenue) to the Washington Bridge, about 5 ½ miles, comparing them with the week before the new ramp opened on Dec. 6. During the afternoon commute, the agency said, it found that travel time was reduced by almost 17 percent and average speed increased by about 16 percent. Since the ramp opened, travel times were reduced by more than 20 percent and average speeds were almost 10 percent higher. Some of the times were affected by rain and snow storms, and the DOT said it expects that the travel times and average speeds will improve further after the winter. "These numbers help show that the improved traffic flow using the Iway is contributing to a shorter commute with less congestion during the afternoon rush hour," DOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. "We are seeing the promise of safer, more efficient highway travel in Providence coming to fruition." 
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Has the director actually driven the new I-way ramp during afternoon rush hour. It is not any better people who are coming off the ramp just before the I-way on ramp do not have enough time to get out of the lanes for the on-ramp and often are cutting people off to stay on I95 South. When are we going to get a director of the DOT that is intelligent.
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