The Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced that a series of brief, temporary highway closures will begin April 9 as part of blasting activities for the ongoing Route 4 “Missing Move” project in Warwick. The closures will affect Route 4 South at its ramp from I-95 South (Exit 24B) and are expected to last approximately 10 minutes each day, Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., continuing for about two months until early June.
Motorists traveling on I-95 South should anticipate delays of around 20 minutes during these times, with traffic potentially backing up to the Cowesett Road overpass. RIDOT advises drivers to plan extra travel time or consider alternate routes. The closures will not impact I-95 North or Route 4 North.
Weekly updates about the project will be posted on the RIDOT website and the dedicated project page. Highway message boards will also alert drivers to upcoming closures, and once underway, message signs will warn motorists to expect stopped traffic.
According to RIDOT, the controlled explosive demolition is necessary because a section of Route 4 South lies within a safety zone surrounding the blasting area. This method is being used to remove bedrock more quickly than mechanical excavation, which would take approximately two years and cause extended noise disruptions. About 14,000 cubic yards of rock will be removed; debris from blasts will be collected, processed, and used as fill across the project area. Each blast is designed to create minimal noise with mats covering each area to absorb energy and contain debris. After each blast, contractors will inspect Route 4 before reopening it.
The ledge being removed is along the path of a new ramp that will connect I-95 North directly with Route 4 South—a connection not built when Route 4 was constructed in the 1960s. Another new ramp from Route 4 North to I-95 South is also part of this effort. Local roads such as Route 2 and Division Street have experienced increased congestion over time; Division Street/South County Trail sees about 60 crashes per year.
The $144 million Missing Move project includes additional improvements near Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown—Rhode Island’s largest industrial park—including three ramps on Route 403 and a roundabout at Compass Circle for better connectivity throughout the park. Final completion is scheduled for fall 2027 according to the official roster page.
