Traffic Alert: Lane Closures Needed For I-95 Bridge Inspection

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will be closing lanes on Interstate 95 in Providence on Wednesday as crews inspect the Broadway overpass bridge. Two lanes will be closed at a time on a rolling basis between Exits 18 and 22 on both sides of the highway.

Debris fell from the bridge onto the highway below during Tuesday's afternoon commute, causing major backups on I-95 South. Emergency RIDOT crews were called to the area to remove the debris from the street and complete an initial inspection.

From 12:30 p.m. until 3 p.m., construction crews will close two lanes at a time in approximately 10 minute intervals between Exit 18 at Thurbers Avenue and Exit 22 in downtown Providence on both I-95 North, as well as on the Route 146 merge to Exit 21 at Atwells Avenue on I-95 South. During this time, a complete inspection will be done on the Broadway bridge.

Five bridges in the Providence metropolitan area, including the Broadway bridge, are scheduled to be repaired soon, RIDOT said. The $11.5 million project will begin in the next few weeks.