New exit numbers on tap for routes 10, 37

RIDOT: Work scheduled for completion in January

By DANIEL KITTREDGE
Posted 12/11/19

As part of a statewide initiative spurred by federal requirements, motorists will soon see new exit numbers along routes 10 and 37.

Charles St. Martin, spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of …

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New exit numbers on tap for routes 10, 37

RIDOT: Work scheduled for completion in January

Posted

As part of a statewide initiative spurred by federal requirements, motorists will soon see new exit numbers along routes 10 and 37.

Charles St. Martin, spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, said the work to update the exit numbers is now scheduled for January. The project had initially been slated for completion before the year’s end, but he said the contractor needed to turn its attention to other weather-sensitive work before the ground freezes.

“We don’t expect any traffic disruption,” St. Martin said.

To date, the exit number project has been completed along a number of highways, including Interstate 295 and routes 4, 78, 403 and 146. The signs along Interstate 195 are being updated ahead of the work on routes 10 and 37, while Interstate 95 and Route 24 are scheduled to receive new exit numbers in 2020.

According to RIDOT, the new exit numbers are tied to mile markers, a system that has long been used throughout the country for many years. Rhode Island and other New England states are among the last to make the switch to the mile marker system, which is required by the Federal Highway Administration.

“A mile-marker exit number system lets drivers know how far they need to travel to reach their desired off-ramp,” a statement from RIDOT reads. “It also allows for easier expansion for future interchanges since the entire highway would not have to be renumbered to accommodate a new exit number. RIDOT will install temporary signs indicating the old exit number and will leave them up for an extended period of time.”

As part of the renumbering initiative, RIDOT is additionally upgrading faded and deteriorated signage along the various routes as needed. Support structures are also being replaced in some cases.

St. Martin said the contractor for the project is Liddell, and the contract for the current phase of the work – including Interstate 195 and routes 10, 24 and 37 – totals $1.9 million. He said much of that total – $1.5 million – is related to the Route 24 work, given that signage structures along that road will be replaced.

“It’s a lot more work,” he said.

For routes 10 and 37, the exit number changes will be as follows:

Route 10 northbound (Park Avenue to Route 6)
Old: 1, New: 1A, Elmwood Ave.
Old: 2A, New: 1B, I-95 North
Old: 2B, New: 1C, I-95 South
Old: 3, New: 2A, Rte. 2/Reservoir Ave.
Old: 4, New: 2B, Industrial Park/Niantic Ave.
Old: 5, New: 3A, Union Ave.
3B: future ramp to Rte. 6 West
Old: 6, New: 3C, Westminster St./Olneyville

Route 10 southbound (Route 6 to Park Avenue)
Old: 5, New: 3A, Union Ave./Huntington Ave.
Old: 4, New: 2B, Cranston St.
Old: 3, New: 2A, Rte. 2/Reservoir Ave.
Old: 2B, New: 1C, I-95 South
Old: 2A, New: 1B, I-95 North
Old: 1, New: 1A, Elmwood Ave.

Route 37 eastbound (Natick Avenue to Post Road)
Old: 1, New: 1A, I-295 South
Old: 1, New: 1B, I-295 North
Old: 2A, New: 1C, Rte. 2 South/New London Ave.
Old: 2B, New: 1D, Rte. 2 North/Reservoir Ave.
Old: 3, New: 1E, Pontiac Ave.
Old: 4A, New: 2A, I-95 South
Old: 4B, New: 2B, I-95 North
Old: 5A, New: 3A, Rte. 1 South/Post Road
Old: 5B, New: 3B, Rte. 1 North/Post Road

Route 37 westbound (Post Road to Natick Avenue)
Old: 4B, New: 2B, I-95 North
Old: 4A, New: 2A, I-95 South
Old: 3, New: 1E, Pontiac Ave.
Old: 2B, New: 1D, Rte. 2 North
Old: 2A, New: 1C, Rte. 2 South
Old: 1B, New: 1B, I-295 North
Old: 1A, New: 1A, I-295 South

“RIDOT will reach out to communities, businesses and organizations along these highway corridors to notify them of the change,” RIDOT’s statement reads. “The Department will also contact electronic mapping and GPS companies to inform them of the new exit numbers.”

Additional information is available at ridot.net/exitnumbers.

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