NORTH SMITHFIELD – For one night only, starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation will temporarily close one lane on Route 146 North and detour traffic on Sayles Hill Road where it meets Route 146. According to RIDOT, the closures will create a work zone so heavy equipment can place new steel beams for continued construction of a new flyover bridge RIDOT is building to reduce congestion and make the intersection safer.
All roads will reopen by 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6.
On Route 146 North, all through traffic will be reduced to one lane and use a portion of the new flyover bridge RIDOT opened in May. The right lane will remain open for local traffic only to provide access to the residences and businesses along Route 146 North. Access to all residences and businesses will remain for the duration of the closure. There will be no access to Sayles Hill Road. Drivers headed to Sayles Hill Road toward Manville should use the Route 99 or Route 146A exits to detour. Drivers headed to Sayles Hill Road toward Iron Mine Road should use Route 146A to detour.
On Route 146 South, there will be no changes for through traffic, and drivers accessing businesses on the west side of the highway corridor or Sayles Hill Road westbound toward Iron Mine Road. Any traffic wishing to turn onto Sayles Hill Road eastbound toward Manville will remain on Route 146 South and reverse direction to Route 146 North or Route 99 North via the I-295 interchange. The traffic signal will remain green for the duration of the work.
On Sayles Hill Road eastbound, west of 146, drivers will detour using Sayles Hill Road to Route 146 South near the Route 146A merge to access Route 146 South. Anyone wishing to go to Route 146 North can follow Route 146 South and reverse direction to Route 146 North via the I-295 interchange.
On Sayles Hill Road westbound, east of 146, drivers will follow detour signage using Route 99 South to Route 146 South, either remaining on Route 146 South toward Lincoln or reversing direction to Route 146 North via the I-295 interchange. Local access between Route 99 and Route 146 will be maintained.
When fully built in late 2025, the flyover bridge will eliminate the need for any traffic signals for Route 146 through traffic at Sayles Hill Road, the only traffic light on Route 146 in Rhode Island. More than 85 crashes occur each year at this intersection, and it is a source of significant congestion and travel delay.
The entire Route 146 Project includes greatly needed improvements to the Route 146 corridor, that aim to make it safer, improving transit connections, and reducing congestion and vehicle emissions. In addition to the flyover bridge, the project will replace or repair five bridges and repave 8 miles of roadway. Visit www.ridot.net/Route146 for more information.
The $196 million project was funded in part by a $65 million federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant – the second largest the state ever received – which was secured by Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation. The entire project will be finished in summer 2026.
RIDOT noted that all construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings and weather.
Thank you B L, I was getting a headache
God I really wish they would just include maps of the changes. So much easier to digest than 4 paragraphs of changes. At least I can use AI to summarize and make it a bit more digestible.
Route 146 North:
Through traffic reduced to one lane using the new flyover bridge.
Right lane open for local traffic to access residences and businesses.
No access to Sayles Hill Road.
Detours for Sayles Hill Road (Manville) via Route 99 or Route 146A.
Detours for Sayles Hill Road (Iron Mine Road) via Route 146A.
Route 146 South:
No changes for through traffic.
Access to businesses on the west side of the highway and Sayles Hill Road westbound toward Iron Mine Road.
Detour for Sayles Hill Road eastbound (Manville) by reversing direction via I-295 interchange.
Sayles Hill Road Eastbound (West of Route 146):
Detour using Sayles Hill Road to Route 146 South near Route 146A merge.
To Route 146 North, follow Route 146 South and reverse direction via I-295 interchange.
Sayles Hill Road Westbound (East of Route 146):
Detour using Route 99 South to Route 146 South.
Options to remain on Route 146 South toward Lincoln or reverse direction to Route 146 North via I-295 interchange.
Local access maintained between Route 99 and Route 146.