Interstate 95Interstates
Here are the three Interstates in Rhode Island. They are all the Main Spurs of Interstate 95. They are: 95, 195, 295
Mileage: 42.6 Miles in RI; 1907 Miles Total
Completed: 1972
Lanes: 4 (Exit 1-8) 6-8 Lanes (8-30)
Speed Limit: 65 MPH (Exit 1-8);
55MPH (Exit 8-16); 45-55 MPH (Exit 16-30)
Interstate 95 is the longest and the most important Interstate in Rhode Island. It was completed fully in 1972 and is the main highway that serves Providence. It probably is one of the hardest to drive highways in the state. It was constructed first in Kent County and next in Providence and Pawtucket. It was finished in 1972 by completing it between Exit 3 and Exit 6. The Thurbers Ave. Curve and the entire section of the highway in Pawtucket are full of sharp curves. Its four lanes until you get to SR 4 and it varies from 6-10 lanes for the rest of the way. During Evening rush hour it is almost impossible to get through the traffic going southbound to South County. At Exit 22 in Providence you can see the New Providence Place Mall. Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci wants to bury the entire highway between I-195 and the 6-10 intersection and stick buildings over it. Most of the section as just undergone road construction especially south of Downtown Providence. There needs to be more lanes added to the section between Providence and SR 4 because South County traffic ties the highway up bad especially in the evening. An exit was just added to exit 22 going south to go straight to the new Providence Place mall. It is named Exit 22C and follows to the Dean St. Exit to Providence Place Rd.
Here are some Exit Listings
Chris O'Leary's New England Highways and Byways
Mileage: 3.6 Miles
Completed: 1962
Lanes: 6-10 (Exit 1-8); 6 (Exit 8-MA State Line)
Speed Limit: 50 MPH (Exit 1-4); 55 (Exit 4-MA State Line)
Interstate 195 was finished in RI in 1962.It was also known as the George M Cohan Memorial Blvd. It is the main road leading commuters from the East Bay into Providence. It has 6-8 Lanes through RI. Exit 8 was the beginning of I-895. It was going to be a giant bridge over the Narragansett Bay that would connect with SR 37. Barrington residents protested this, killing the project. In a couple years the highway will move in front of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier and its interchange with I-95 will be in front of the RI hospital. This will eliminate the dangerous S-curve in front of the rotting Providence River Bridge. The bridge needs to be built because the sharp curve at the Providence River causes backups into East Providence. It has many exit only lanes and tight curves so it was not a well planned highway. I-195 as eight exits going eastbound but it has only four going westbound. I-195 starts in Providence and ends at I-495 at Cape Cod. Right now the plan to move I-195 has been approved and buildings are already been planned to be demolished to let the highway go through. A page devoted to the project is here.
Here are the Exit Listings
Chris O'Leary's New England Highways and Byways
Mileage: 24 Miles
Completed: 1969
Lanes: 4 (Exit 1-5); 6 (Exit 5-11)
Speed Limit: 65 MPH
Interstate 295 is the main spur around Providence. It was completed in 1969. It varies from 4-6 Lanes in RI. Exit 5 was supposed to be an interchange with I-84 which was slated to be completed from Connecticut but it was scrapped because it would run to close to the Scituate Reservoir which would contaminate the State's Water Supply. Exit 3 is the beginning of SR 37 which would have been I-895. This spur starts in Massachusetts can could have been extended eastward past its Northern Terminus in Attleboro. I-295 starts at Attleboro, MA and ends in Warwick. The Signs going onto the highway say Woonsocket even though it goes no where near it. It makes no sense that the highway is three lanes north of Johnston, but when you get to the more densely populated Cranston and Warwick is turns into to two lanes in each direction.
Here are the Exit Listings
Chris O'Leary's New England Highways and Byways
The Dead
Interstate
84: This would have been an extension of I-84 in Connecticut. It was
to go from Hartford to Providence and connect with US 6 at I-295. It was partially started
as I-384 in Connecticut. Yet in 1979 the State of Rhode Island Senate killed the
plan because it would affect the Scituate Reservoir which was the source of the Providence
Area's water supply.
Interstate
895: These are basic descriptions but go here
for the whole story.
First I-895; The First I-895 was to be a bridge across the bay. It would start at SR 37 and would extend through Warwick across the bay into Barrington where it would connect to the Wamponag Trail which continues to the South Shore Expressway and connect to I-195 at exit 7. This was killed by NIMBYism of Barrington residents who didn't want an expressway in their quiet little town. Yet it would have helped Providence Traffic considerably.
Second I-895; The second I-895 was to be an extension of SR 24 in Portsmouth. This would have connected 24 and the Newport Bridge Connector in Newport. One plan was to take the highway along the Western Coast of Aquidneck Island and the other plan was to take it straight through the middle of the island and make another bridge parallel to the Mt. Hope Bridge. This Project was also killed by NIMBYism. Though this would have given some reasoning to the Newport Bridge. It finally would have given a faster alternative to get to South County from East Bay.
Interstate 195
Interstate
295