Bridge Carrying Middle Road over Route 4 to Close for Two Months

Prepare for detours and delays as the state Department of Transportation begins work on the bridge that carries Middle Road over Route 4 starting on June 23.

The bridge will be closed for about two months as crews make deck and joint repairs as part of a $2.9 million contract state with Cardi Corporation for bridge repairs in nine communities.

Along with the deck and joint repairs, the sidewalks will be reconstructed.

"We are working to expedite this operation and get the road reopened as soon as possible in order to minimize impacts to the community and travelers," the DOT said in a release. "Detour routes will be established using South County Trail, Division Street and Howland Road. A signed detour will be in place."

Though the bridge is close to East Greenwich High School, the DOT said it tried to time the start of repairs with the end of classes to lessen the impact.

But the school isn't fully closed during the summer, and the closure is likely to cause additional traffic tie ups on South County Trail and Division and Frenchtown Roads.

Town officials told Elizabeth McNamara earlier this month that they caught off guard when the DOT announced the project start.