Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Work is scheduled to resume Tuesday evening on the Henderson Bridge, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The activity is the second phase of a $3.3-million repair project. The bridge, sometimes called the New Red Bridge, connects Waterman and South Angell streets on Providence's East Side with Massasoit Avenue in East Providence.

The first task will be to move concrete barriers on the eastbound side. The new traffic pattern will be in place Wednesday.

Traffic will be directed to use the right travel lane when the left lane is closed. A similar operation is planned to take place in two weeks on the Henderson Bridge westbound. The bridge's original left lanes will remain closed permanently.

The project involves steel repair, replacement of bridge joints, a new drainage system and other improvements with the goal of extending the service life of the bridge. The project also will establish bicycle lanes for both the eastbound and westbound movements. The bridge has long been a popular route for cyclists and pedestrians. The DOT expects the work to be complete this fall.

In this next phase of construction, cyclists and pedestrians will encounter changes from the pattern that was instituted when the project began last year. The primary change for motorists will be the reopening of the ramp from the Henderson Bridge eastbound to Massasoit Avenue in East Providence.

The sidewalk on the bridge carrying westbound traffic will close. All pedestrian and bicycle riders will travel on the Henderson Bridge eastbound. Cyclists heading west toward Providence will be required to dismount and use the eastbound bridge's sidewalk. They can reach this sidewalk at the end of the off-ramp from the Henderson Bridge to Massasoit Avenue in East Providence.

Cyclists heading east toward East Providence will be directed to use the shoulder area on the eastbound bridge, which will be the future bike lane. RIDOT is also installing bike plates on the bridge's expansion joints. These cover the gaps in the bridge joint and prevent bicycle tires from getting snagged in the joint.

A map of the changes for cyclists is posted on the BikeRI section of the DOT's website at: www.dot.ri.gov/bikeri/maps/hendersondetour-new.jpg.

The following is a summary of the changes taking place this week:

Henderson Bridge Eastbound:
• Right travel lane opens. Left lane closed.
• South sidewalk opens. North sidewalk closes.
• Massasoit Ave. exit southbound will reopen.

 Tags  Henderson Bridge Rhode Island Department of Transportation

Comments

linus said:

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL THIS BRIDGE WHILE IT IS LOADED WITH 1080 tons of JERSEY BARRIER?????????

540 TONS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BRIDGE.

540 TONS ARE BEING USED TO CREATE LANDS DURING THIS REPAIR.

Counting two rows of JERSEY BARRIERS on the two sidewalks and a double JERSEY BARRIER in the center medium there are and additional FOUR ROWS of Jersey barriers on this bridge.

So, we have EIGHT rows of JERSEY BARRIERS lined end to end from one end of this 900 foot long bridge to the other.

Approximately, 7,200 feet of JERSEY BARRIERS are sitting on this bridge.

Each JERSEY BARRIER weights around 3000 pounds.

Do the math...@ 10 feet each we have 720 BARRIERS times 1.5 tons or 1080 tons of JERSEY BARRIER sitting on this bridge.

IS IT SAFE??? CAN IT HOLD ALL THIS WEIGHT???

I think I will avoid this bridge for now.

Link | June 9, 2009 5:53 PM
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CJ said:

Seems like they've been "working on it" for 20 years!

Link | June 10, 2009 11:53 AM
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