The Rhode Island Department of Transportation recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $144 million I-95 “Missing Move” and Quonset Ramps construction project that has been under discussion for decades.
[Above photo by RIDOT]
The project includes construction of two critical ramps that were never built when Route 4 was constructed in the 1960s and will afford direct highway connections between I-95 North and Route 4 South, as well as Route 4 North and I-95 South. The project also will make numerous improvements at and near the Quonset Business Park, the state’s largest industrial park, RIDOT said.
The agency noted it has finally been able to move forward with this project after receiving an $81 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America or INFRA grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“This project has been talked about for decades, and today, we’re finally turning words into action,” said Governor Dan McKee (D) in a statement. “This crucial infrastructure investment will improve traffic flow and unlock economic potential at Quonset Development Corp. – one of our state’s major job creators.”
“Once again our Congressional delegation put their shoulders into the federal grants process and helped Rhode Island get this funding so we can finally build these missing ramps,” added RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr.
“Their construction will reduce travel times, provide more efficient movement of freight traffic and alleviate congestion and delays, especially at the Division Street/South County Trail intersection which is overloaded with traffic that has had no choice but to use local roads to make certain connections between I-95 and Route 4,” he added.
The project is divided into two main components. The first portion to be constructed includes three ramps on Route 403 in North Kingstown to connect the Quonset Business Park’s West Davisville district – including a new roundabout south of Route 403 at Compass Circle – that should be completed by the summer of 2026.
The second component, which will begin construction in early 2026, includes the “missing moves” at the I-95/Route 4 interchange in Warwick. RIDOT will build a new flyover bridge to link Route 4 North to I-95 South using an existing right-of-way for an at-grade link between I-95 North and Route 4 South. The “missing moves” are expected to be finished by the summer of 2027.
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