RIDOT Announces Temporary Closure of Slatersville Stone Arch Bridge

Rachael Perry

By: News Staff

News@abc6.com

@ABC6

NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Effective on Monday, May 1, the Slatersville Stone Arch Bridge carrying Route 5 (Providence Pike) over the Branch River in North Smithfield will close for rehabilitation. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation says that the bridge will be closed throughout July.

The historical Slatersville Stone Arch Bridge, known as the oldest documented bridge n Rhode Island built in 1855 carries around 8,000 vehicles per day. The bridge carries a 20-ton weight limit, and has been structurally- deficient since 2007. RIDOT closed half the bridge in 2003 due to the bridges need for repairing, and installed temporary traffic signals for a single-lane alternating traffic pattern. This has caused traffic delays in the village.

Now, RIDOT’s project is set to rehabilitate the structure so that the bridge will no longer be deficient or carry a weight limit. The schedule includes the bridge closing twice during the three-year project, which will shave a year off the project’s construction timeline.

The major component of the project will restore and reinforce the existing stone arches, which support the 150-foot long bridge. To maintain the historical integrity of the bridge that sits in Slatersville Historic District, RIDOT was required to rehabilitate rather then to replace the bridge.

The total cost of the project is set to $13.5 million.

The project will also upgrade portions of Main Street and Route 5 (Railroad Street/ Providence Pike) by resurfacing and brining all existing curbing, sidewalks and walkways into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. New signing and striping will be added, and minor drainage and intersection improvements will be made.

During the first period of closure, RIDOT will install the arch strengthening components. A second closure will be done to completer the construction of the bridge, and is planned to last from March 2018 through July 2019. The contract features daytime construction, but some night work may be required due to paving operations.

During each of the closures, vehicle operators are advised o follow the detour recommended using the turn-by-turn directions below.

Northbound Car Detour:

• Turn right onto Industrial Drive (Approx. ¼ mile before the bridge)
• Industrial Drive turns into Pound Hill Road
• Pass under Route 146 overpass, turn left for Route 146 North on-ramp
• Take the Forestdale/Slatersville exit
• At end of ramp, turn left onto School Street
• Bear left onto Greene Street
• Return to Route 5
Northbound Truck Detour:

• Turn right onto Industrial Drive (Approx. ¼ mile before the bridge)
• Industrial Drive turns into Pound Hill Road
• Pass under Route 146 overpass, turn left for Route 146 North on-ramp
• Take the Forestdale/Slatersville exit
• At end of ramp, turn right onto School Street
• Turn left onto Route 146A
• Follow 1.5 miles to return to Route 5

Southbound Car Detour

• Turn left onto Greene Street
• Bear right onto School Street
• Turn left onto Route 146A
• Turn left for on-ramp to Route 146 South
• Take the Pound Hill Road exit
• Turn right at end of the ramp onto Pound Hill Road
• Pound Hill Road becomes Industrial Drive
• Return to Route 5
Southbound Truck Detour

• Turn left onto Route 146A
• Drive South (Approx. ½ mile before the bridge)
• Use on-ramp for Route 146 South
• Take the Pound Hill Road exit
• Turn right at end of the ramp onto Pound Hill Road
• Pound Hill Road becomes Industrial Drive
• Return to Route 5

@WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017

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