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Iway Project: I-95 South to I-195 EastRhode Island Department of Transportation – Office of Communications

.RIDOT began construction on the I-195 Relocation Project, branded the Iway, in 2001. The project had been years in the planning stages, and was chosen as the best design to correct numerous deficiencies along I-195 as well as I-95, and doing so with a new alignment that would minimize impact to traffic during construction.

The latest construction overview map of the Iway project.

The project consists of new bridge and ramp structures, including a new 1,250-foot bridge carrying I-195 over the Providence River. It has four lanes in each direction with adequate right and left shoulders, exit and entrance ramps on the right side, adequate acceleration and deceleration lanes, and also provides for the opportunity to implement the City of Providence’s Old Harbor Plan.

An aerial view of the eastbound ramps to the Iway

The December 2008 opening was the second major highway opening associated with the Iway project. As of this writing, RIDOT has opened three out of four major highway movements on the Iway project.

This overview map of the new Iway ramp opening was distributed to affected businesses

RIDOT’s Office of Communications created the slogan “Take the RIGHT way to the Iway” to inform motorists of the change and encourage them to stay in the right lanes to reach I-195 East. This message was incorporated in a print advertisement designed to look like standard highway signage, which mimicked the look of the original diagrammatic signage for the old exit.

In advance of the highway opening, the Office of Communications allowed media outlets to conduct preview drives on the new ramp, including the creation of a video produced by the Providence Journal newspaper showing a driver’s-eye view of the new highway.

A Providence Journal photographer shooting video through the sun roof while driving on the Iway

The day before the opening, the Office of Communications held a press event with Governor Donald Carcieri (third from right) and other local, State and Federal dignitaries. This ribbon-cutting event took place on the new ramp, and RIDOT worked with the general contractor to provide a heated tent due to the extremely cold conditions that day.

Dignitaries snip a ribbon at the dedication of the new Iway ramp

RIDOT’s website hosted a variety of resources for motorists to learn about the new highway opening with maps, graphics, and photographs. The Office of Communications also created more than a dozen “virtual flyovers” of suggested detour routes using Google Earth.

Other Outreach Efforts:• Scheduled interviews with RIDOT officials on popular morning and afternoon drive

radio talk shows.• Arranged numerous television and radio interviews before and after the ramp

opening.• Organized an “Iway Hotline,” a call-in panel of RIDOT officials during the evening

newscasts on Channel 10, WJAR-TV, the highest-rated local news station in the Providence market.

Looking north at the entrance of the new Iway ramp

A review of travel times on I-95 South and I-195 East during the first month of motorists using the new Exit 20 to the Iway saw an overall improvement in travel times and average speeds. In the first week:• Travel times during the afternoon commute were reduced by almost 17 percent• Average speed increased by about 16 percent.

This information was communicated to the motoring public and the media and provided another opportunity to communicate “The RIGHT way to the Iway” message.

The new Iway ramp at Exit 20 as it appears today