I-95 Pawtucket River Bridge

[NE2]

http://www.dot.ri.gov/construction/Bridge550/index.asp
I-95 was closed to trucks in both directions through Pawtucket several years ago due to a deteriorating bridge. The new northbound span has opened.

Check out this detour for local traffic:

[KEVIN_224]

I've been on a Peter Pan/Bonanza bus a few times in this stretch. The local detour on city streets is not fun, either.

[Alps]

... it wouldn't look nearly so bad for most traffic that turns at Exchange St. It's only the couple of blocks of traffic below that that has to follow this detour.

[southshore720]

Pawtucket is horribly laid out with one-ways and poor signage as it is.  I find myself getting lost in the Downtown area all the time.  I can't imagine how the truckers feel with this insane detour!  However, I'm sure the bridge will be nice once it's complete.

[NE2]

This isn't the truck detour, but a local detour for a street that passes under the bridge. The truck detour is much more reasonable: http://www.dot.ri.gov/documents/travelri/bridge550/A1.pdf

[KEVIN_224]

That truck detour is exactly the one I've taken with the bus companies. Thanks for the link!

[SidS1045]

http://www.dot.ri.gov/construction/Bridge550/index.asp
I-95 was closed to trucks in both directions through Pawtucket several years ago due to a deteriorating bridge.

...and they were quite serious about keeping heavy trucking off of that bridge.  Signs pointing out detours (mostly to the I-295 bypass) were posted more than 30 miles from the bridge (some in Massachusetts), and highlighted the $3000 fine in bold and italic type.  State police patrols at the bridge were there 24/7.

[southshore720]

I was just in this area last night.  Work steadily continues.  They've installed new traffic signal setups at the major intersections along the George St. bridge right before the bridge project.  They've installed new signage for Exits 28 & 29 Northbound.  The gantry for Exit 29 is extremely-wide...not sure if this is to accommodate another sign.

[SidS1045]

According to today's Boston Globe, the southbound work is complete, so the warning/detour signs are being removed and the $3000 overweight fine is history.

[Alps]

According to today's Boston Globe, the southbound work is complete, so the warning/detour signs are being removed and the $3000 overweight fine is history.

I can't believe this day has come.

[southshore720]

They just opened a new Irish restaurant at the foot of the I-95 Exit 27 SB off-ramp.  Bad timing for them considering that ramp will be closed for the next 10 months.  YELP!!   

I also find it interesting that Exits 30 & 25 were listed as alt. rtes. to the Exit 27 closure, but Exit 29 was not mentioned.  Exit 29 takes you into the heart of Downtown Pawtucket.  How would going all the way down to Exit 25 (Smithfield Ave) help someone trying to access that part of town?

[english si]

Irish restaurant

So mostly a variety on lots of potatoes with a little bit of pork/lamb and some veg, washed down with Guinness or whiskey and red lemonade?

I guess it could be worse - it could be traditional Scottish cuisine!

[oldblue910]

You, sir, win the Internets for a day.

[KEVIN_224]

Does anybody know when this whole project is supposed to wrap up?

[oldblue910]

Does anybody know when this whole project is supposed to wrap up?

Probably pretty quick. Northbound and southbound work is now done...so you figure the crews will find a way to keep busy and bill the taxpayers for another 2 or 3 months doing misc. this or that, and the mob needs their cut...just the way business is done in RI. I lived there for 12 years. You get used to it.

[doogie1303]

Does anybody know when this whole project is supposed to wrap up?

Probably pretty quick. Northbound and southbound work is now done...so you figure the crews will find a way to keep busy and bill the taxpayers for another 2 or 3 months doing misc. this or that, and the mob needs their cut...just the way business is done in RI. I lived there for 12 years. You get used to it.

Not to mention the State made a mint collecting fines for truckers who did not take the detour. The fine was $3000, lets just say there was ALWAYS a trooper if not 2 waiting in both directions almost 24/7.