Smithfield Route 7 bridge lanes narrowed through mid-fall

Drivers using Route 7, also known as Douglas Pike, over I-295 in Smithfield should expect narrowed lanes through mid-fall while the Rhode Island Department of Transportation continues bridge construction.

The current traffic pattern supports concrete median-barrier work and related construction at the bridge. RIDOT’s July 25-31 travel advisory lists weekday left-lane closures on Route 7 over I-295, generally from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work schedules remain subject to weather and changing construction conditions.

What changed on Route 7

RIDOT announced the new pattern on July 16, with the work originally scheduled to begin July 20. The start was adjusted to July 21 after rain affected the schedule, according to the Rhode Island Government release.

The narrowed lanes are part of the remaining work at the Douglas Pike bridge. The bridge reopened to traffic in late spring, but that reopening did not mark the end of the project. Median work and other construction activities are still underway.

What drivers should expect

Commuters should plan for less room to change lanes and potentially slower or less predictable trips during active work periods, particularly on weekdays. The current advisory describes left-lane closures for median-barrier work rather than a full closure of Route 7.

Drivers should follow posted signs, use caution through the work zone and check RIDOT’s current travel advisories before leaving for a time-sensitive trip.

Broader project remains underway

The Smithfield work is part of a $63.5 million RIDOT project involving bridge construction at Douglas Pike in Smithfield and Diamond Hill Road in Cumberland. The Douglas Pike bridge is open to traffic, but construction at the site is not complete.

The broader project is expected to be completed in spring 2027. That is a project-wide target, not the expected end date for the current Route 7 lane narrowing. For Smithfield drivers, the immediate expectation is that the narrowed pattern will remain through mid-fall, with individual work periods changing as construction progresses.

Sources

• RIDOT Travel Advisories
• Rhode Island Government RIDOT release
• Town of Smithfield RIDOT bridge traffic notice