Washington Bridge moving to 6 tight lanes – time for good situational awareness

Photo: RIDOT

Tonight’s the night – 3 lanes all the way around, East and West – on I-195. Crews will be working tonight – Friday night warning to those who took 2 hours to commute last Friday night. While RIDOT has said that “crews will be working on Friday night from 9 p.m. to early Saturday morning”, we know that delays can happen – last time 3 lanes were put in on the East side, the work was delayed right up until commute time.

The third lane will open westbound on the Washington Bridge on the morning of Saturday, April 20. This will provide three lanes of travel in both directions. The speed limit is 40 MPH.

Lanes will be only 10 feet wide, and trucks must use the far-right lane, which is 11 feet wide. Note: Not every truck is doing this on the East side of the highway which is already 3 lanes – and not every car is going to stay to a speed limit – and not every car is going to stay in their lanes without a swerve for whatever reason – so this is the time to drive defensively – and have good situational awareness.

RIDOT urges drivers to stay in their lane, avoid distractions, and be kind to one another.

Today, at 10am, Governor Dan McKee, Senior Deputy Chief of Staff Joseph Almond, Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Darnell Weaver, and Director of Transportation Peter Alviti will discuss safety and enforcement measures to maintain safe Travel across the Washington Bridge.

This is a developing story and will be updated, as needed, after the press event.