Meeting agenda 

Welcome & Introductions

Project Overview & Timeline

Community Involvement 

Environmental Considerations

Keeping in Touch

Q&A

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Project OverviewBuilt in 1940, the Central Bridge has surpassed its design life and is showing signs of aggressive deterioration. The bridge is currently posted at 15 tons – a weight restriction that adversely affects vehicle traffic in the area.

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Project Timeline

Phase One

October 2013 – December 2013

• Demolition begins• Westbound lane closed (detour in place)

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Project Timeline (cont.)

Phase Two

December 2013 – July 2015

• Building the northern portion of the bridge (to support Westbound traffic)

o Driving sheeting & piles (by February)• Intermittent lane closures; no night work anticipated• Noise & vibration expected during pile and sheeting operations

• By the end of Phase Two, the weight restriction will be lifted

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Project Timeline (cont.)

Subsequent Phasing

August 2015 – October 2016

• Phase 3 will mimic Phase 1• Phase 4 will mimic Phase 2• By October 2016, the new bridge will be fully open to traffic 

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Project Timeline (cont.)

Reaching Completion

November 2016 – May 2017

• Environmental & landscaping work will be completed (i.e., stormwater/wetland mitigation)

• Substantial completion scheduled for May 2017

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Community Involvement 

• Working with the town to keep bridge open throughout construction

• Raising vertical clearance on the bridge by two feet

• Increasing the bridge sidewalk width from 5’ to 5’6” which will allow for improved pedestrian mobility

• Increasing the bridge roadway width from 24’to 43’ which will allow for improved cyclistand traffic mobility

• Installing decorative pedestrian railings and street lighting

• Installing Share the Road signs to enhance cyclists’ safety

• Accommodating fishermen on sidewalks

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Environmental Considerations• Training for all onsite personnel to better understand 

environmental considerations such as terrapin habitat

• Installing erosion controls project‐wide and regularly monitoring for pollution, per Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

• No in‐water construction work February – June to protect migratory species in Hundred Acre Cove

• Established wetland mitigation areas (Riverview Drive, Virginia Road and at southwest corner of bridge)

• Worked with town to restrict the speed to 5 mph at the no‐wake zone in the Cove

• Installing turtle barrier fencing along Rte. 114 to minimize any potential harm to turtle populations

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Keeping in Touch

• Weekly project updates via email & period community meetings

• Timely updates disseminated through the media, variable message boards, signage, and advertising

• For up‐to‐the‐minute information, visit us online:

www.dot.ri.gov

www.facebook.com/ridotnews

www.twitter.com/ridotnews

CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

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CENTRAL (WHITE CHURCH) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT