Old onramp sign from Broadway SB in East Providence.


Cool old signs still exist even in Providence; no point in taking these down, as I-195 is currently being reconstructed to the south to get past the really old freeway segment that was once just US 6, so they're about to disappear anyway.


Where US 44 leaves I-195 WB, after the Washington Bridge. This is also where US 1A leaves I-195, though you'd never know it. US 44 was intended to leave I-195 on a freeway of its own, heading in a more northerly direction, but only the Henderson Bridge was built, with stubs on either end and two half-interchanges. An awful lot of houses would have to have been condemned for a redundant road.


Looking south from the eastbound lanes at the future Providence River Bridge. To explore the new I-195, follow the link at the bottom of the page.


In addition to the video linked at the bottom of the page, now I have photos from driving the bridge eastbound, and the WB side is still not open. The retro columns on either side of the bridge are a classy touch.


Not sure where I took this (it's years old), but that's a narrow shield with very narrow (FHWA B-series) letters.


Now at the foot of the Exit 4 ramp, which leads to the Henderson Bridge and was meant to have the US 44 freeway as I explained above. Click to see that little green sign - it's not as old as it looks, but it's still interesting. (After you click: the Washington Bridge is the really old one that I-195/US 6/US 44/US 1A cross from here eastward.)


Northbound on Gano St. at Exit 3, leaving India Point Park. I don't know why the left arrow is taped over, because the onramp is right there. The old eastbound onramp is closed for construction (in February 2007), though.


Veterans Memorial Parkway NB, East Providence, making a beeline for I-195 Exit 4. This sign is too RIDOT for RIDOT - not only is it not a cutout, but there's enough room for a 3-digit 30"x24" shield in there.


RIDOT has finally gotten around to adding US 1A shields to I-195, but has forgotten to add WEST and SOUTH to this assembly and to make the I-195 shield the proper width.


Now heading EB, a few more old signs. And hey, look, a US 1A reference! Click on each photo to see what happened when RIDOT closed the left exit from the East Shore Expressway (Exit 7) to Warren Ave. (US 6), and instead added left turns and a traffic signal to Exit 8 (which is in the median of the E. Shore).


At this point, that's Massachusetts Exit 2 for MA 136, which quickly becomes RI 136 anyway. That shield is so RIDOT.


One final old sign, WB. Click for a daytime version that hides this reflective goodness.

See construction photos of new I-195
Drive the new bridge eastbound
Back to I-195 main page

Into MA on I-195
Onto I-95
Onto US 6
Exit 2 or 6 to US 44
Exit 6 to RI 103
Exit 8 to US 1A
Back to Rhode Island Roads
Back to Roads