Weekend lane closures coming to North Kingstown for construction of new bridge

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said that two extended weekend lane closures on Route 1 at the Route 138 interchange in North Kingstown will begin on May 1.

RIDOT said that lanes and ramps will be temporarily shifted and closed, and detours will be implemented as part of accelerated bridge construction to replace the bridge there.

The southbound bridge will be replaced from 9 p.m. on May 1 through 5 a.m. on May 5, while the northbound bridge will be replaced during the same hours beginning May 8 and finishing prior to the morning commute on May 12.

The following lanes and ramps will be closed during the construction:

• Route 1 – one lane in each direction closed at the bridge
• Ramp from Route 1 South to Route 138 East
• Ramp from Route 138 West to Route 1 South
• Ramps that allow traffic to reverse direction from Route 1 North to Route 1 South, and Route 1 South to Route 1 North

Meanwhile, the following lanes and ramps will remain open:

• Ramp from Route 1 North to Route 138 East
• Ramp from Route 138 West to Route 1 North

RIDOT said that commuters should use the following detours during the closures:

• Route 1 South from East Greenwich to Route 138 East toward Jamestown/Newport: Remain on Route 1 South and reverse direction to Route 1 North using the turnaround approximately 1 mile south of the Tower (intersection with Moorsefield Road and Bridgetown Road). Follow Route 1 North to the ramp to Route 138 East. Note: Trucks will be directed to detour at Bridgetown Road to Boston Neck Road (Route 1A) to Route 138.
• Route 1 South to Route 1 North: Use same detour as Route 1 South to Route 138.
• Route 138 West from Jamestown to Route 1 South toward South Kingstown/Narragansett: Use the ramp for Route 1 North. Merge onto Route 4, then turn right onto West Allenton Road. Turn right onto Route 1 South.
• Route 1 North to Route 1 South: Use same detour as Route 138 West to Route 1 South.
• Motorists coming from the University of Rhode Island Kington campus area heading toward North Kingstown should use Route 2 North to reach Route 4.
• Motorists driving north from the Narragansett area should use Route 1A.
• Drivers in the Providence area or points north may wish to use I-195 toward Newport County.   

The department added that access to local businesses along the Route 1 corridor “will be maintained at all times.”