Farnum Pike Bridge Demolition In North Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, RI — A portion of Farnum Pike Road will be closed overnight Friday through most of Saturday so demolition work can be done on the retaining walls of the Farnum Pike Bridge. The road will be closed on Route 104 where it passes under Route 146 in North Smithfield starting Friday night at 10 through Saturday night about 10.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said travel on Route 146 will not be affected during the closure. Eastbound traffic will be detoured onto Route 5 (Providence Pike), Industrial Drive, Pound Hill Road and Route 146A (Smithfield Road). Westbound travelers should use the on ramp to Route 146 North, reverse direction to Route 146 South at Exit 13 (Pound Hill Road), and get off on Route 104 to get back on Route 104.

The work is part of a $13.9-million design project and total construction on the structurally deficient bridge, which carries approximately 40,000 cars per day. RIDOT plans to build a temporary bridge between the northbound and southbound lanes of Route 146 over the next few months. That will allow traffic to be shifted onto the temporary bridge without a long-term highway closure.

The project is projected to be done Summer 2022.