The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) recently broke ground on the $36 million I-295 paving project.
“Our Administration has a plan, and historic federal funding, to finally tackle Rhode Island’s worst roads and bridges,” Gov. Dan McKee said on Sept. 7. “This is a plan that will help mitigate extreme weather events like we had earlier this week and create good-paying jobs in the process.”
The project will repave more than 40 miles of interstate highway and be completed in two phases. Phase one will resurface from the Massachusetts state line to the Route 44 interchange while phase two will resurface from Route 44 to I-95.
Other work includes paving on and off ramps, stormwater improvements, and resurfacing two small sections of deteriorated pavement on I-95 in Pawtucket from Lonsdale Avenue to Walcott Street.
I-295 carries 50,000 vehicles daily and has not been paved since 2004. The section of I-95 in Pawtucket carries 110,000 vehicles daily.
Work is expected to be completed in 2024.
This is part of RIDOT’s $492 million, five-year program to repave Rhode Island’s worst roads. I-295 is the first $92 million paving project scheduled for this year.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure and Improvement Act and RhodeWorks are funding the project.