Sensor installation on Washington Bridge to affect traffic pattern

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said that it would be installing sensors on the Washington Bridge as part of its Structural Health Monitoring system.

RIDOT said there will be alternating one-way traffic on Waterfront Drive under the bridge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 17 and March 18 for the installation.

There will also be overnight right and center lane closures on Interstate 195 East from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. from March 23 to March 27 for fiber optic conduit and cable work.

In addition, the department said it had begun publicly posting data from its weight monitoring system on the eastbound side of the bridge.

The department added that the sensors and the data would “inform RIDOT in real time how the bridge structure responds to overweight trucks.”