Ramp From Route 37 To I-295 Closing 2 Weekends In Cranston For Bridge Work

CRANSTON, RI — This Friday and Sept. 6, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will close the ramp from Route 37 westbound to Interstate 295 northbound in Cranston for the weekend for bridge construction.

The closures begin each weekend at 8 p.m. Friday nights and ends by 5 a.m. Monday. When the ramp is closed, motorists will follow a short detour by reversing direction at Route 37's intersection with Natick Avenue and following Route 37 eastbound to its on-ramp with I-295 northbound. A detour map is available at here.

Cranston Street at the Route 37 overpass will be closed this weekend, and traffic will use Wilbur Avenue, Oaklawn Avenue and Sherman Avenue to detour. A section of the Washington Secondary Bike Path will be briefly detoured for the Sept. 6 weekend closure.

RIDOT officials said they will use rapid bridge construction methods for the replacement of the bridge that carries the ramp traffic over Cranston Street this weekend. Crews will demolish the old bridge and use self propelled modular transporters to slide the new ramp bridge into place.

State officials said the work on the Sept. 6 weekend will complete construction on the bridge carrying Route 37 over the bike path. The steel girder bridge was replaced with a pre-cast concrete arch and over the course of the weekend, the final portion of the old bridge will be removed, followed by backfilling and final pavement.

During both weekend operations, motorists using the ramp from I-295 southbound to Route 37 will need to come to a stop before merging onto Route 37.

This work is part of the $85 million Cranston Canyon project, which is addressing deteriorated bridges along the western end of Route 37 and its intersection with I-295. It includes safety improvements along the "canyon" section of I-295 – the nickname given to the rocky outcropping on this section of the interstate.

State officials said the project also will reduce chronic congestion issues on both highways, which will reduce vehicle emissions. About 84,000 vehicles travel daily on I-295 northbound between Route 37 and Route 14, and 36,500 vehicles on Route 37, west of Pontiac Avenue.

All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings and weather.

Have a news tip? Email jimmy.bentley@patch.com.