RIDOT To Detour Park Ave. For Bridge Work

CRANSTON, R.I. -- A portion of Park Avenue will be detoured near the intersection of Budlong and Dyer Avenues. Only the eastbound lane will be affected.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, the lane closure is needed for road work on the Park Avenue Bridge, which crosses the Pocasset River.

All local businesses will be accessible while the detour is in place.

The detour is as follows:

• Turn left onto Dyer Avenue
• Turn right onto Cranston Street
• Turn right onto Gansett Avenue
• Follow Gansett Avenue to return to Route 12

RIDOT says that the detour is expected to be in place until the end of they year. Originally, the project was slated to be finished in Summer 2021, but by putting the detour in place early the agency expects to shorten the timeline by several months.

The Park Avenue Bridge, built in 1960, is considered structurally deficient. Short-term barriers have already been installed along the curb on both sides of the bridge to protect drivers fro the most damaged areas of the bridge.