Greater City Providence
Image from RIDOT
The final portion of Route 195 westbound traffic is scheduled to move to the new Iway alignment next week (Tuesday morning weather permitting). Traffic on 195 west heading to 95 north is the only traffic remaining on the old portion of Route 195, this traffic will move to the new ramps south of the old interchange. With all traffic off the old alignment, demolition can commence in earnest.
The Iway project is about to reach a significant milestone, the opening of the last highway segment of the relocated interchange of I-195 and I-95 in Providence. The new highway from I-195 West to I-95 North is scheduled to be open on October 20, 2009, weather permitting.
RIDOT expects the change to have a dramatic impact on I-195 West, which long has been one of the most congested sections of highway in Rhode Island, especially during rush hour. Opening this part of the highway has other implications, including on and off-ramps. Also, the I-195 split will be moved from its current location near the Washington Bridge to just after the new Providence River Bridge. There will be four lanes of traffic leading up to the split, two left lanes for I-95 South and two right lanes for I-95 North. The center right lane allows access to either direction on I-95.
The new exit 20 from Route 95 north to Point Street will also open last week. Exit 20 in part makes up for the loss of the Dyer and Wickenden Street exits off the old Route 195 east allowing for access to the Jewelry District, Hospitals, and other areas south of Downcity.
Image from RIDOT
Jef Nickerson
What will happen to I-195W Exit 2 (South Main Street)? I looked through the RIDOT website and didn’t see the information. I commute on the RIPTA #60 bus, and it uses this exit ramp.
I was looking to see if they had any info on that exit as well and couldn’t find any. My assumption is it will remain open without interruption. Though it will likely go through several temporary arrangements as they move from the current alignment to the final alignment through the process of removing the old highway.
It is a very important exit and I would be shocked if they would close it except for maybe a couple hours here and there overnight.
I think I found the answer on the DOT update map:
http://www.dot.state.ri.us/img/content/construction/iway/I-195Update12hires.jpg
You can see the path of the new I-195W Exit 2 marked in green. Since the exit cuts across the existing I-195W, it has to wait until the traffic is moved.
Because of this, I assume that Exit 2 will stay open as the work continues.
Yes, the current westbound South Main exit will remain open after traffic moves off the old alignment until the new ramp, south of Wickenden Street is completed.
Due to the weather, the 195 shift is delayed until Wednesday. The new exit 20 from Route 95 north to Point Street is still scheduled to open on Tuesday morning.
ProJo