Interstate 195 links downtown Providence with Seekonk and Fall River, Massachusetts. The freeway initially received the designation Interstate 95E in 1957, before receiving the Interstate 195 numbering in 1959. Work opened the majority of the freeway into Massachusetts by 1960, yet the interchange with Interstate 95 was not completed until 1964 and the portion along Fox Point Boulevard through India Point Park until 1968. The freeway utilizes the 1932-built eastbound Washington Bridge and 1968-built westbound Washington Bridge over the Seekonk River.1
Due to the substandard nature of Interstate 195 and high accident rate associated with the freeway, RIDOT and the FHWA have approved a new alignment. Interstate 195 will travel a southerly path through India Point Park between a new Interstate 95 interchange and replacement Washington Bridges. The project includes a new steel arch bridge for the Providence River and replacement pedestrian overpass at India Point Park.1 2 The estimated $446 million project entails redevelopment of land, parks, new walking paths, and other infrastructure improvements. Completion of the new freeway and arch bridge is expected by Summer of 2007. Demolition of the old bridge and subsequent street improvements will follow between 2008 and 2012.3.
Interstate 195 Highway Guide
Interstate 195 east
U.S. 6 joins Interstate 195 from Interstate 95 southbound at the eastbound beginning. The tandem proceed northeast through downtown Providence toward the Providence River and East Providence. Departing the freeway ahead is Exit 1 onto Dyer Street north for the central business district. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Ramps converge from Interstate 95 north, Interstate 95 south & U.S. 6 east, and Friendship Street north. The downtown skyline comes into view as Interstate 195 & U.S. 6 curve eastward. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Interstate 195 & U.S. 6 eastbound turn eastward toward the Dyer Street off-ramp (Exit 1). Dyer Street transitions into Memorial Boulevard at the Crawford Street bridge. Memorial Boulevard carries U.S. 44 eastbound between Steeple and Crawford Streets alongside the Seekonk River. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Exit 1 departs Interstate 195 & U.S. 6 eastbound for Dyer Street and downtown Providence. Memorial Boulevard travels north and west along the river to junction U.S. 1 (Francis Street) and the Interstate 195 interchange with U.S. 6 & Rhode Island 10. Photo taken 06/26/05.
The freeway crosses the Providence River and quickly enters the Exit 2 interchange with Point and Wickenden Streets. Point Street (U.S. 1A) spans the Providence River, passes under Interstate 195 & U.S. 6, and intersects Water and Main Streets (U.S. 44 east & west). Wickenden Street continues Point Street east from the freeway to Hope and Gano Streets. India Point Park lies south of Wickenden Street and Interstate 195. Photo taken 06/26/05.
U.S. 1A & 44 eastbound joins Interstate 195 & U.S. 6 between Exits 2 and 4. The trio continue east alongside India Point State Park toward the Gano Street off-ramp (Exit 3). Photo taken 06/26/05.
Exit 3 departs the Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A-6-44 eastbound freeway at the India Point Park pedestrian over crossing. Gano Street heads north from India Street and the park to Waterman and Angell Streets east of downtown. Photo taken 06/26/05.
A temporary construction sign lists the first two East Providence exits of Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A-6-44 east. U.S. 44 splits from the freeway at Exit 4 via Taunton Avenue east. Rhode Island 103 commences at Valley Street and Exit 4, traveling Warren Avenue east to Pawtucket Avenue south en route to Riverside and Barrington. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A-6-44 eastbound travel the 1932-constructed Washington arch Bridge over the Seekonk River. The span will be replaced in conjunction with the Interstate 195 relocation project by a new five-lane bridge. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Additional views of the Washington Bridge along Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A-6-44 eastbound. The westbound span carries four lanes at present but upon completion of the Interstate 195 relocation project, will also carry five overall lanes. The river represents the boundary between Providence and East Providence. Photos taken 06/26/05.
Exits 4 and 5 depart Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A-6 almost in unison at the east end of the Washington Bridge. U.S. 44 veers east northeastward via Taunton Avenue to central East Providence. Valley Street southbound transitions into Veterans Memorial Parkway southward along the Seekonk Riverfront to Squantum Woods State Park and junction Rhode Island 103 (Pawtucket Avenue). The parkway in conjunction with Rhode Island 103 serves the community of Riverside. Exit 5 provides a direct ramp onto the parallel Warren Avenue (Rhode Island 103) eastbound. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Continuing eastward at the Lyon Avenue over crossing, Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A-6 prepare to split at the Exit 7 partial "Y" interchange with Rhode Island 114 (Wampanoag Trail) freeway. Departing first however is the Exit 6 off-ramp onto the adjacent Warren Avenue midway between its intersections with Broadway and Pawtucket Avenues (Rhode Island 114). Photo taken 06/26/05.
Eastbound at the Exit 6 off-ramp for Warren Avenue west to Broadway. Broadway travels north-south through the heart of East Providence between Veterans Memorial Parkway and Newman Avenue (junction Rhode Island 114 and 152). Pawtucket Avenue carries U.S. 1A & Rhode Island 114 northward from Warren Avenue to Rumford. U.S. 1A shares a silent merge with Interstate 195 & U.S. 6 between Exits 2 and 8. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Drawing near the Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A and U.S. 6 eastbound split at Exit 7. Rhode Island 114 constitutes a full freeway from Interstate 195 and Warren Avenue southward to the town of Barrington. The state highway serves the communities of Bristol and Warren south of Barrington on the drive to Portsmouth and Newport. Photo taken 06/26/05.
U.S. 6 eastbound leaves Interstate 195 & U.S. 1A at the Exit 7 off-ramp and Pawtucket Avenue (U.S. 1A & Rhode Island 114) overpass. U.S. 6 forms the beginning of the Wampanoag Trail freeway before Rhode Island 114 makes the jump from Warren Avenue. At the jump, U.S. 6 overtakes Warren Avenue via an off-ramp on its eastward trek to Highland Avenue and Seekonk, Massachusetts. Rhode Island 114 follows the Wampanoag Trail or East Shore Expressway 5.5 miles southward to Massasoit Avenue in Barrington. The state highway continues south all the way to Rhode Island 138 in Newport. Photo taken 06/26/05.
U.S. 1A leaves its silent merge with Interstate 195 via the Exit 8 loop ramp onto Warren Avenue westbound. Rhode Island 114 departs the Wampanoag Trail for Warren Avenue and merges with U.S. 1A north on their drive to Pawtucket Avenue. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Interstate 195 bends southeast and crosses the Massachusetts state line near the Warren Avenue under crossing. The first Massachusetts exit serves Massachusetts 114A (Fall River Avenue), a bypass route of East Providence for Rhode Island 114 through Seekonk. Photo taken 06/26/05.
