Officials to open Warren River Bridge

PROVIDENCE—State transportation officials are opening the new Warren River Bridge.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that the bridge will open to traffic overnight Thursday, in time for Friday’s commute.

Director Michael Lewis says initial paving and safety-related work is finished, making it possible to open the bridge to traffic before its expected completion in October.

Lewis says officials anticipate minor traffic disruptions for the next few months while workers finish electrical and lighting work and demolish a temporary bridge. The route carries about 22,000 vehicles a day.

Construction on the new bridge began in the spring of 2006. The original bridge was built in 1914.