Starting on December 17, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will open the new Route 146/Sayles Hill Road flyover bridge in North Smithfield. The transition will begin Wednesday night with all northbound traffic using the bridge, followed by southbound traffic on Thursday night. This change aims to eliminate the only traffic light on Route 146 in Rhode Island, which has been a significant source of congestion and accidents, averaging over 85 crashes annually.
The project includes service roads for access to Sayles Hill Road and local businesses, along with new signals featuring pedestrian crossings. This flyover is part of RIDOT’s $196 million initiative to enhance this busy corridor, used by approximately 171,000 vehicles daily. Additional improvements include new frontage roads at Sayles Hill Road, bridge replacements, a complete reconstruction of the Route 146/Route 146A interchange, removal of dangerous U-turns, paving eight miles of road, and adding bus-on-shoulder accommodations.
Funded partly by a $65 million USDOT INFRA Grant secured through Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, the project is expected to be completed by summer 2026. RIDOT emphasizes that construction schedules may change due to various factors. More information can be found at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.
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