Lane Shift Coming To I-295 North In Cranston

CRANSTON, RI — Changes are coming to Interstate 295 North next week on the Cranston-Johnston line. All traffic will be rerouted to a temporary bridge near Exit 6 to allow for work on the original bridge. The traffic change will remain in place until next spring.

Rhode Island Department of Transportation crews built the temporary bridge in between the north- and southbound lanes to allow crews to complete demolish and rebuild the bridge in its initial location. The traffic shift will go into place during the week of June 24.

During construction, all exits and on-ramps will remain open.

Once work is finished on the northbound side of the highway, southbound traffic will be shifted to the temporary bridge to allow for construction on that side of the highway.

The construction is part of a four-bridge construction project, totaling $22.6 million. Three of the four bridges are currently rated as "structurally deficient." All four were built between 1968 and '69 and carry approximately 82,000 vehicles each day.