Skip to content

Project Profile: Iway (I-195 Relocation Project)

Iway

photo credit: Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)

Location

Providence, Rhode Island

Project Sponsor / Borrower

Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)

Program Areas

Alternative Project DeliveryProject Finance

Mode

Highway / Bridge

Description

Iway is composed of 16 individual projects to relocate a 45-year-old 1.6-mile stretch of I-195 and an adjacent 0.8-mile portion of I-95 through Providence. The highway was relocated 2,000 feet to the south of its former alignment and outside the barrier which protects the 350-year-old city from hurricane flooding. The project included 14 new bridges with a 1,200-foot, 8-lane mainline bridge over the Providence River, 25 lane-miles of new interstate, a new interchange with I-95, five miles of new city streets, and 4,100 feet of new pedestrian riverwalks. In addition, removal of the existing interstate freed up 20 acres of prime downtown real estate currently under redevelopment by the I-195 Redevelopment Commission.

The mainline Iway Bridge (Providence River Bridge) garnered national attention for its construction innovation. The bridge was largely constructed offsite to avoid more complicated barge-based construction and to allow simultaneous construction of its concrete foundation. The bridge was floated 12 miles into place in August 2006.

Cost

$610 million

Funding Sources

GARVEE bonds

Motor Fuel Tax Revenue bonds

Project Delivery / Contract Method

Design-build

Private Partner

Design-builder - Maguire Group Inc. (prime consultant) and Cardi Corp. (prime contractor)

Project Advisors / Consultants

Not available

Lenders

Bondholders

Duration / Status

In late October 2009, the last highway segment of the relocated interchange opened to traffic. All new roads, bridges and ramps were in use at the end of 2010. The previous infrastructure was demolished and the land made ready for redevelopment with the formal transfer of land between the state and the I-195 Redevelopment Commission in April 2013.

Financial Status

Closed

Innovations
  • Part of Rhode Island's multiyear bonding strategy coupling GARVEE bonds to fund the Federal-aid eligible portion of certain project costs with Motor Fuel Tax Revenue bonds to finance the state share of project costs
  • National recognition for its unique approach constructing the Iway Bridge offsite and floating it into place
  • Widest and first three-arch network arch bridge in the U.S.; first with a skew angle in the world
  • America's Transportation Award Winner (Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials): Large Project - Innovative Management
  • Redevelopment along the old highway's 20-acre corridor offers a unique opportunity to bring together formerly divided neighborhoods, with special emphasis on marketing opportunities for life science, research and development, institution, entrepreneurial startup, and residential development.
Related Links / Articles

Greater City Providence Blog

I-195 Redevelopment District (The Link)

RIDOT Iway Podcasts

Contacts

RIDOT Public Affairs
Tel: (401) 222-1362

back to top