RIDOT: Rte. 37 East Lanes Shift Friday

CRANSTON, RI — Saturday night, Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is shifting Rte. 37 East travel lanes left at the Oaklawn Avenue Bridge.

This is the third of three phases of construction, according to the agency. To date, RIDOT has replaced two-thirds of the bridge. The lane shift creates a work zone so the department can safely demolish and replace the final portion of the bridge. The traffic pattern will be in place until April when lanes will be restored to their original configuration. All work on this bridge will be done by early summer, RIDOT reports.

$142M Rte. 37 Project Rehabbing 6 Bridges

RIDOT is rebuilding the Oaklawn Avenue Bridge as part of a larger $142.8 million project to make numerous improvements, replacing and rehabilitating 6 bridges carrying Rte. 37 over local roads, arterials, and rail lines.

This work is part of a larger $142.8 million project to make numerous improvements, replacing and rehabilitating six bridges carrying Rte. 37 over local roads, arterials, and rail lines. It is the third of three Route 37-focused projects, representing more than $300 million of improvements to address all bridges and safety concerns along the entire highway. Rte. 37 is a critical east-west freeway in central Rhode Island, linking the cities of Cranston and Warwick, major retail, office and residential areas, Interstate highways and Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. With a daily traffic count of 42,000 vehicles, Rte. 37 is one of the state’s busiest corridors.

All construction projects are subject to change in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings and weather.

The Rte. 37 project, covered in previous articles, is made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.