One of the boldest – and costliest — transportation projects in the state’s history, the relocation of a generous stretch of Route 195 that runs through Providence, is on schedule. For the last year, the state Department of Transportation has been buying the land it needs in order to lay down a new, two-and-one-half mile stretch of Route 195 to be located parallel to the Hurricane Barrier, a half-mile south of the existing highway.
The project is expected to cost at least $320 million – and take at least six years to complete. The bulk of the money to pay for the project is coming in the form of federal transportation funds.
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Once completed, the project is expected to open acres of prime development land and reunite neighborhoods with downtown Providence.
It is also a matter of safety.
The highway in question, running from Route 95 to the pedestrian bridge on Route 195, is showing signs of the state’s lack of maintenance during cash-strapped times. In several locations concrete has fallen from bridges.
According to Department of Transportation Director William Ankner, the relocation of Route 195 will create a more direct, straighter highway – one that will be safer for motorists and more effective in handling traffic.
The DOT has been studying ways to improve the stretch of highway since the early 1980s – now its crippling condition – and the availability of federal funds — has forced the issue off the drawing board and into action.
As of early July, Ankner said the project was moving along on schedule and that, in fact, the land acquisition component of the project was slightly ahead of schedule.
”We’re starting to do a lot of utility work,” he said.
Travel along the current stretch of the highway should go on without interruption during the 195-relocation project. One of the factors in moving the highway was that had the state attempted to simply repair the existing highway – there would be nowhere to put the thousands of cars and trucks that travel it each day.
More Providence to Boston trains
In other transportation news, Gov. Lincoln Almond joined Ankner last week in applauding the efforts of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) in providing three additional round-trip Providence to Boston commuter trains. The trains will leave Providence for South Station at 1:44 p.m., 5:24 p.m. and 9:39 p.m.
”These additional trains are just the first stage in increased rail transit for Rhode Island,” said Ankner. “With the new MBTA layover facility in Pawtucket and the new train station scheduled to be built at T.F. Green Airport, inter-modal transportation is well on its way to becoming a significant presence in Rhode Island.”
