The New Providence, RI Iway

The old Interstate 195 to 95 exchange in downtown Providence, RI was built and put into use in the 1950's. Anyone who had driven on it over the years, particularly during the morning commute or the evening rush hour, would agree that it had severely outlived itself in terms of traffic volume, and repairs. Reports state that the highway designed to handle about 75,000 vehicles a day was being overwhelmed with over 150,000 in more recent times. Additionally, there were too few lanes to handle the flow, dangerously sharp turns, and inefficiently placed exits. Since the 1980's, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) had been formulating a plan to remedy those issues. In mid 2004, construction began on what was to be an overall 8 year venture to upgrade and modernize the aging interstate.

The highway project, sometimes referred to as "The Little Dig" (in comparison to a similar neighboring project in Boston, MA called "The Big Dig") has been highly successful, and very well received. There have been several major progress milestones in the evolution of the new roadway. In the summer of 2006, The Providence River Bridge was floated into place, gaining press, earning accolades from the industry, and ultimately a spot in a documentary on the History Channel. In late 2007, the grand opening of the Iway, as it is called, was celebrated with reportedly over 10,000 walkers hitting the pavement prior to it being opened, and used by vehicles. Just before this 2009 holiday season, the long awaited ramps leading to the I-95 north bound lanes were opened, retiring the old I-195 completely.

If use of the old I-195 has been discontinued, why isn't the project complete? Construction is continuing in downtown Providence, and all of the work is expected to be completed on schedule in 2012. The old I-195 is currently being removed, and overall improvements of the city's waterfront areas where the old highway exists are slated to take place.

To dig deeper,the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has offered maps, information, and updates to the public via its official website since the project began. Additionally, the RIDOT has live webcams in place to view the Iway, and has also recorded several interesting podcasts that cover topics such as the details of the relocation project, the bridge float, and the revitalized waterfront. The information is a historical must see.

Sources/Resources:

RIDOT Official web site.

Iway on Wikipedia