PROVIDENCE — In time for the Friday morning, Dec. 15, rush hour, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has opened two bypass lanes on the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge to traffic headed west on Interstate 195 from East Providence to Providence.

The adjusted pattern, required after the sudden closure of the west side span due to immediate deficiency concerns, will allow two lanes of travel westbound and two lanes of travel eastbound – all operating on the eastbound Washington Bridge.

Most ramps that were closed for detour purposes will reopen. However, the Gano Street off-ramp (Exit 1D) will remain closed, as will the on-ramps to I-195 West from Veterans Memorial Parkway and Taunton Avenue.

Of note, a passage on the westbound bridge created for use by emergency vehicles only will be maintained throughout the remainder of the west side repair process, estimated to take up to three months.

The westbound bridge closure just about paralized motorists in East Providence, stifling movement around the city and especially at its main entry points and on the crucial thoroughfares.

Thursday, Dec. 14, RIDOT Director Peter Alviti promised the bypasses would be opened by Saturday morning, Dec. 15, at the least, and suggested the two new lanes could be opened a day earlier as work to construct them moved rapidly.

The initial presumption, announced by Alviti earlier in the week, was that the bypass lanes would take as long as two weeks, but more likely at least a week to open up.

RIDOT expects the bypass lanes will help alleviate heavy congestion, but there will still be delays. Motorists may continue to find one detour route or the other more effective for them. As traffic becomes accustomed to the change with the bypass lanes open, RIDOT expects congestion levels to even out and create more predictable traffic flow and travel times.

RIDOT has posted estimated travel times for each detour route on the Washington Bridge closure page at www.ridot.net/WashingtonBridgeClosure and will update this information continuously.

The following recommended detours and alternate routes may be used:

• Local traffic in East Providence: Use the Henderson Bridge and rejoin I-195 West at Gano Street.
• Southeast Massachusetts west of Fall River, MA: Take Massachusetts Exit 1 and follow Route 114A to Route 44 West. Follow onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue) or Route 1A (Newport Avenue) to I-95. This is the preferred routes for trucks.
• Southeast Massachusetts east of Fall River, MA (including traffic coming from Cape Cod and the New Bedford Area): Take Massachusetts Exit 14B to Route 24 North. Follow to I-495 North to I-95.