Construction of Citizens Bank campus in Johnston begins

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

It’s a construction project so big, it’s bringing changes to 295.

Citizens Bank is moving its new corporate campus, and thousands of workers, over to Johnston.

A big crowd marked the official groundbreaking for the site Wednesday as work began at the future site on off Greenville Avenue.

Citizens Bank Chairman and CEO Bruce Van Saun explain the campus’ features. "There’s three large buildings for office space, two for office workers, one for a call center and then there’s a big amenity center with the cafeteria the fitness center and outdoor space."

Altogether, it’s an over $200 million construction investment that will move 3200 employees from Cranston to this massive new campus – so massive, in fact, RIDOT is building a new on-and-off ramp from 295.

“It will provide more flow into Johnston center. Our employees who work here will be shopping in Johnston."

Plus the town makes out with a 20-year tax agreement – 5 million over 20 years.

But the project has not been entirely met with open arms. Back in May, people who live near the campus site protested the construction, saying it is unsafe for their kids and the environment.

At the groundbreaking, Johnston Mayor Joe Polisena disagreed.

"You’re not even gonna know this place is here quite frankly… it’s gonna enhance the property values no doubt about it. The state’s gonna basically widen the road so they’ll come off the ramp they will have their own lane. "

The plan is to move workers to the new campus once Citizens Bank’s lease of their current Cranston building is up in 2018. The new campus should be move-in ready by July of that year.

The company plans to keep its headquarters in Providence.

© WLNE-TV 2016