Journal Staff
CRANSTON — The Park Avenue railroad bridge in Cranston, which takes traffic over the Amtrak Northeast Corridor tracks between Elmwood and Wellington avenues, will close for about four months starting Saturday, May 15, the state Department of Transportation announced.
The bridge, which dates back to 1906, carries 15,000 vehicles per day and is a vital link for the Park Avenue business area. The state has determined that it is structurally deficient, and it will be demolished and reconstructed as part of an $11.7-million project.
Drivers will follow a detour using Elmwood Avenue and Wellington Avenue; the estimated travel time is six to 10 minutes. To accommodate pedestrians, RIPTA will run a free shuttle bus around the bridge at 30-minute interval from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.