West River Street Bridge in Providence to close July 12 for 4 months and will be replaced

PROVIDENCE — The West River Street Bridge in Providence, between Branch Avenue and Charles Street, will close for four months as work begins to tear down and replace the "structurally deficient" bridge.

The bridge will be closed starting on Friday, July 12, according to a news release from the Department of Transportation.

West River Street, closest to the bridge, starts as a spur on Branch Avenue, just past the on-ramps and off-ramps to Interstate 95, the Savers and the Stop and Shop, crosses the West River and then connects to a a half-oval-shaped road, half West River Street and half Corliss Street, which flank either side of the massive U.S. Postal Service building.

Where the detour goes

Signage for detours will be set up once the bridge is closed.

A temporary traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Charles and West River streets while the bridge is closed.

• Westbound: Suggested detour goes down Silver Spring Street to Charles Street and back onto West River Street (which becomes Corliss Street).
• Eastbound: Suggested detour goes down Branch Avenue to North Main Street, onto Barbara Leonard Way and onto Corliss Street (which becomes West River Street).
• "Pedestrian crossings will be allowed at all times."

Bridge has been in disrepair for years

According to a 2021 inspection report , the bridge, built in 1955 and reconstructed in 1988, was, structurally, in "basically intolerable" condition in 2021, with its superstructure being noted as in "serious condition" with "local failures possible."

The bridge carries 8,000 vehicles a day.

Other improvements planned

The bridge isn't the only thing being replaced as part of the project. Improved drainage, sidewalks and improvements that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act are all slated for the area in addition to the new bridge.

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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter .

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: West River Street Bridge in Providence to close July 12 for 4 months and will be replaced