Stone Arch Bridge to be closed again
NORTH SMITHFIELD – Local drivers will once again have to follow alternative routes around the Slatersville Stone Arch Bridge as a result of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s (RIDOT) plan to close the Route 5 span over the Branch River on Jan. 2 and keep it shut to traffic through December 2018.
The closing will be the second shutdown for the historic bridge located next to the stone-built Slatersville Mill, now an apartment complex.
Slatersville Stone Arch Bridge carries approximately 8,000 vehicles per day on Route 5 (Providence Pike) over the Branch River and either to the Main Street Slatersville area or southeast through the Primrose section to Route 7, Douglas Pike.
The bridge, currently open to one lane of traffic with a light switching system, was closed last May for approximately three months while work was conducted on the bridge and its approaches.
The original schedule called for the second closure to take place next summer, but, in conjunction with the town, RIDOT’s Project Management team advanced the work to begin in January.
This approach will allow tasks associated with the closure to be completed in less time, one year instead of a year and a half, according to RIDOT.
During upcoming closure period, RIDOT will reconstruct the arch of the bridge. The first steps, slated for January and February, are the removal and excavation of the existing roadway and the majority of the stone arch. Once that work is done, the Department will begin to refill the arch with concrete, and rebuild the historic stone walls to mirror their original state. This will be followed by installation of precast deck panels that will sit on top of the arch and ultimately carry the traffic, plus sidewalks and railing.
The bridge, part of the Slatersville Historic District, is the oldest documented masonry bridge in Rhode Island, dating back to 1855, according to RIDOT. Deemed structurally-deficient since 2007, it is currently posted at 20 tons. Due to its current state of disrepair, RIDOT closed half the bridge back in 2013 and installed the temporary traffic signals for a single-lane alternating traffic pattern on the bridge, causing traffic delays in the village.
The total cost of the project, taking into account added costs associated with accelerating the project, the historic preservation efforts, and additional steps to meet environmental restrictions, is $13.5 million.
The project, which primarily features daytime construction, also includes upgrades to portions of Main Street and Route 5 (Railroad Street/Providence Pike), such as resurfacing, bringing all existing curbing, sidewalks and walkways into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, adding new signing and striping, and some minor drainage and intersection improvements.
During the closures, motorists are advised to follow the recommended detour using the turn-by-turn directions described below. Local access will be maintained. Get detour maps at www.ridot.net/detourmaps.
RIDOT’s detour plans are listed below. Northbound Car Detour: Turn right onto Industrial Drive (Approx. ¼ mile before the bridge); Industrial
Drive turns into Pound Hill Road; Pass under Route 146 overpass, turn left for Route 146 North on-ramp; Take the Forestdale/Slatersville exit; At end of ramp, turn left onto School Street; Bear left onto Greene Street; Return to Route 5 Northbound Truck De
tour: Turn right onto Industrial Drive (Approx. ¼ mile before the bridge); Industrial Drive turns into Pound Hill Road; Pass under Route 146 overpass, turn left for Route 146 North on-ramp; Take the Forestdale/Slatersville exit; At end of ramp, turn right onto School Street; Turn left onto Route 146A; Follow 1.5 miles to return to Route 5 Southbound Car Detour: Turn left onto Greene Street; Bear right onto School Street; Turn left onto Route 146A; Turn left for on-ramp to Route 146 South; Take the Pound Hill Road exit; Turn right at end of the ramp onto Pound Hill Road; Pound Hill Road becomes Industrial Drive; Return to Route 5 Southbound Truck Detour: Turn left onto Route 146A; Drive South (Approx. ½ mile before the bridge); Use on-ramp for Route 146 South; Take the Pound Hill Road exit; Turn right at end of the ramp onto Pound Hill Road; Pound Hill Road becomes Industrial Drive; Return to Route 5