AASHTO Journal, 19 July 2013
Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials President Mike Lewis joined elected officials and members of the community at a groundbreaking ceremony of the much anticipated Providence Viaduct Replacement Project on Monday.
The Providence Viaduct is one of the most heavily traveled pieces of interstate on the East Coast, carrying I-95 traffic through the heart of Providence. Originally constructed in 1964, the Viaduct has surpassed its design life and now needs to be replaced. RIDOT says replacement the interchange is vital to the economic health of the state and dozens of businesses, both big and small, served by the interchange. The entire $147 million project will be completed in two phases–the first of which will construct the new bridge for I-95 south and new exits for some streets (to be completed by November 2015) and the second will construct the bridge for I-95 north and new on-ramps (to be completed by November 2018).
RIDOT scheduled the event to recognize the beginning of this bridge replacement project and provide a forum to acknowledge its key partners.
“The importance of this project cannot be overstated,” Lewis said. “The Viaduct carries 220,000 vehicles per day and provides a critical link between Washington, D.C., and Boston. It’s also an access point for dozens of local businesses in Downtown Providence, and we are committed to letting the traveling public know the city is open for business throughout this vital work.”
RIDOT hosted more than 100 people at the groundbreaking ceremony, which featured a ceremonial signing of a bridge beam that will be used as part of the project.
Additional information on the Providence Viaduct Replacement Project is available here.
Photo caption: Shown in the attached photo from left to right are RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis and RI Governor Lincoln D. Chafee, signing the beam.