195 Bridge breakdown now into day 77 since the closure back on December 11th drivers continue to deal with the closure on the westbound side of the bridge and uh starting this evening tonight's work to add another Lane will begin in the meantime a draft report from one of seven firms examining the bridge suggests dramatic options to deal with the problem all right very latest update this morning with Joe Cortez he's been on our Bridge coverage now for a couple of weeks what's the latest Joe well
Christen Patrick the latest is they're going to really narrow down those Lanes the state has shelled out more than $2 million since the abrupt closure traffic's been a nightmare in some cases but with the additional Lanes on the horizon officials believe it will increase motor vehicle capacity by 50% the timeline for completion of these additional Lanes is about 8 weeks that could change depending on weather and supply chain issues now this construction is going to move the bypass Lanes in East
Providence around 3,000 ft to the west it'll give Crews additional space to add Lanes on both sides of the highway but fair warning those Lanes tight squeeze they normally about 12 ft wide they're going to be 10 ft wide the average car is about 5 to 6t wide and your speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph additionally ryot is setting up signs to restrict 18 wheelers to the far right lane in both directions we're still waiting on six other reports from outside Engineers on the bridges structures d
amage and uh on Friday newsmakers Senator Sheldon White House said that there's been an ask to look into Federal funding it's early to know what that need for funding is going to be until we know is it a knockdown and replace can the pillars still stand is it a repair what does it look like and until we know that it's hard to know what column it fits into a Federal Highway funding now if you're coming from Providence and are heading over on the uh southw or South excuse me southw street and Indi
a Street if you head on to 195 there that ramp you get on you're going to have to yield now and that may cause some delays for motorists during rush hours again it's an 8we time frame but that could change that's the latest live in studio Joe cortz 12 News
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