Route 4 Lanes In North Kingstown To Shut Down

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Traffic delays are expected this weekend as a portion of Route 4 in North Kingston will be closed to traffic. Lane closures will be in effect to allow for the replacement of a bridge. The closures are scheduled to begin Friday evening and end Monday morning. Route 4 between Oak Hill Road and the Exit 3/Route 102 interchange will be down to one lane in each direction, according to state transportation officials.

The lane closures are part of Phase I of the Lafayette Road Bridge replacement project. The bridge carries Route 4 traffic over Lafayette Road in North Kingston and is located near McKay's Furniture. Phase I includes replacing the northbound side of the bridge, according to Rhode Island Department of Transportation, which has provided a traffic detour map.

Drivers traveling through that area during the bridge replacement are asked to use caution and plan ahead this weekend. Delays are expected.

Transportation officials say that the bridge, built in 1988, is structurally deficient. Phase II, which includes replacing the southbound part of the bridge, is scheduled to take place in October. The $8.7 million bridge replacement project is slated for completion in summer 2020.

Department of Transportation is using accelerated bridge construction for this project. It involves the method of Slide-In Bridge, or lateral slide, in which a new bridge is built on temporary supports parallel to the existing bridge, which is then demolished and removed. Then, the new permanent bridge is put in place, tied to the approaches and paved, usually within 72 hours, according to the state's transportation officials.

"The Slide-In Bridge method causes less traffic disruption and provides greater safety for motorists and construction workers because of the condensed time frame," Department of Transportation has stated. "There are also fewer environmental impacts from vehicle and other construction equipment emissions."

According to transportation officials, the Lafayette Road Bridge carries approximately 56,000 vehicles a day.