Johnston's Greystone Sluiceway Bridge To Close Thursday

JOHNSTON, RI — The Greystone Sluiceway Bridge in Johnston will be closed as of Thursday after the Rhode Island Department of Transportation said hundreds of vehicles exceeding the 3-ton weight limit were seen or cited for crossing the bridge in recent weeks.

RIDOT said the bridge will be closed "to protect public safety" until 2022 when it is scheduled to be replaced.

Officials said a spot inspection of the bridge on the Johnston/North Providence line in late May revealed nearly 100 overweight crossing the bridge. After a follow-up inspection produced similar findings, additional signage informing of the weight limits were posted.

Earlier this month, Johnston and North Providence police handed out 66 citations and 18 warnings over two more weeks of patrols. Another one-day survey then observed 25 more overweight vehicles crossing the bridge.

"Based on the condition of the bridge and the number and type of overweight vehicles that continue to ignore the posting signs and pass over the bridge," officials said, "RIDOT decided to close the bridge until it can be replaced."

The 71-year-old timber bridge carries about 3,000 vehicles per day between Riverside Avenue in Johnston and Waterman Avenue/Route 104 in North Providence.

A detour will use Waterman Avenue and Putnam Pike (Route 44).