PROVIDENCE – The Providence Viaduct Replacement Project got underway with a groundbreaking ceremony at noon Monday, the R.I. Department of Transportation announced.
The project will replace the southbound side of the bridge that takes I-95 into downtown Providence. The viaduct is one of the most heavily used interstate sections on the East Coast, hosting 220,000 vehicle crossings each day.
Officials from the transportation department and local and federal government were on hand to deliver remarks about the importance of the replacement at the ceremony Monday. Those in attendance were also able to sign a steel pole that will be a part of the bridge.
The viaduct was originally built in 1964 and has begun to deteriorate in recent years. It plays an important economic role in Providence as a central conduit to many downtown businesses.
