Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. --- The state Department of Transportation will start closing lanes on Route 195 westbound and Route 95 southbound at 8 p.m. tonight to prepare for a major traffic shift that will go into effect early Thursday, department spokesman Charles St. Martin said.

Before the morning rush hour, the agency will divide westbound traffic on Route 195 at a new split at the Providence end of the Washington Bridge.

At the split, the left lanes will lead to a new section of highway and a new ramp that will join Route 95 southbound farther south than the present ramp from the old Route 195. That ramp, which now links the old Route 195 west with Route 95 south, will be closed tonight. That means that westbound traffic using the old Route 195 will be able to go only north on Route 95.

The right lanes at the split will go to local exits and to Route 95 north, as in the past.

Frank Corrao III, the DOT's deputy chief engineer for construction, said the agency must have workers and equipment off the road by 6 a.m., in time for the morning rush hour.

The work tonight will include shifting concrete barriers into place to create the divider and painting stripes on the highway to mark new lanes. At some point early Thursday, only one lane will be left open, St. Martin said.

Helpful tools for navigating the Iway.

Video: A sneak peak video of the new highway.

A map showing the new and old traffic patterns.

 Tags  iway Providence RI

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