Overview
Construction activities are in progress. Weather and unexpected circumstances make all construction activities subject to change without notice, but we will do our best to keep you updated.
Traffic Shifts on Route 79 Northbound and No Through Traffic on Local Davol Street Northbound
To facilitate utility installations and related work, MassDOT will shift traffic patterns on the Route 79-Davol Street Corridor Improvements Project, anticipated to begin October 27, 2024. The newly constructed 79 Northbound bridge will be opened to traffic and Local Davol Street Northbound, between Route 79 Northbound and Turner Street, will be closed to through traffic. A detour will be implemented to direct traffic from Route 79 Northbound to Turner Street, President Avenue, and to the gas station located on Davol Street Northbound. This detour will be in effect for approximately six (6) months.
When travelling north on Route 79 (view a map here):
- For access to Turner Street, continue on Route 79 Northbound over the newly constructed 79 Northbound Bridge. In approximately 1,000 feet, turn right onto Turner Street.
- For access to Local Davol Street Northbound, toward President Avenue, continue on Route 79 Northbound over the newly constructed 79 Northbound Bridge. Route 79 Northbound will merge with Local Davol Street Northbound in approximately 1/3 mile.
- For access to the gas station located at 431 Davol Street Northbound, continue on Route 79 Northbound over the newly constructed 79 Northbound Bridge. Route 79 Northbound will merge with Local Davol Street Northbound in approximately 1/3 mile. Continue an additional 1/3 mile to President Avenue, then turn left onto President Avenue. In approximately 60 feet, turn left onto Local Davol Street Southbound and continue for approximately 1/2 mile to the Gas Station Driveway Extension, located under the newly constructed Davol Street Northbound Bridge. Turn left onto the Gas Station Driveway Extension.
Detour routes will be clearly signed and marked.
Temporary closure of President Avenue westbound to Davol Street southbound begins June 16
MassDOT will temporarily close President Avenue Westbound to Davol Street Southbound beginning on or about June 16. All traffic will be detoured to the Brightman Street U-turn. This closure will be in place 24 hours a day for approximately six weeks.
Traffic traveling west on President Avenue to Davol Street Southbound will be temporarily detoured to the Brightman Street U-turn:
- Turn right at the President Avenue / Davol Northbound intersection
- Continue north approximately 0.4 miles to the Brightman Street U-turn and turn left
- Continue approximately 300 feet to Davol St Southbound intersection and turn left onto Davol Street Southbound and continue to your destination
Temporary closure of the Brightman Street U-turn starts June 2
MassDOT will temporarily close the Brightman Street U-turn from Monday, June 2 through Friday, June 27. This closure will be in place for 24 hours a day so crews can pave the permanent intersection.
Vehicles seeking to cross the temporary Brightman Street U-turn should use the following detour:
- Continue on Davol Street Northbound and Route 79 Northbound for approximately 1 mile
- Take the North Main Street / N Fall River Exit
- Turn left onto North Main Street and continue north for approximately 0.2 mile
- Turn right onto the Route 79 South on ramp to Newport / Providence RI
Continue on Route 79 Southbound and Davol Street Southbound for approximately 1.2 miles and continue to your destination.
Permanent U-turn has been Established
MassDOT has permanently closed the temporary U-turn and cross walk currently in place between The Cove restaurant and Senator Thomas Norton City Pier. This has been replaced by the permanent U-turn and crosswalk configuration located approximately 100 feet to the south. Motorists should utilize the new U-turn.
Traffic Shifts Near the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge
To facilitate work at the proposed intersection at Brightman Street and Route 79 Southbound, traffic on the Route 6 Eastbound/Route 79 Southbound ramp from the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge has been shifted slightly to the east. Further, traffic on Route 79 Southbound passing under the Route 6 Eastbound/Route 79 Southbound ramp from the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge has been shifted slightly to the west.
Reconfiguration of the Intersection of President Avenue and Davol Street Northbound
To accommodate essential utility work in the area, the intersection of President Avenue and Davol Street northbound has been temporarily reconfigured. The temporary reconfiguration will remain until Fall 2025.
Permanent Closure of Route 79 Northbound and Southbound from Veterans’ Memorial Bridge
The high-speed expressway of Route 79 northbound and southbound from Veterans’ Memorial Bridge to the Fall River Heritage State Park has been permanently closed.
Northbound and southbound Route 79 traffic has been permanently routed to the current Davol Street on either side of the expressway. All local roadway and Route 79 through movement connections will be maintained through this route using Davol Street. Route 79 drivers are advised that the speed limit on Davol Street is 30 mph and to observe local traffic regulations. Alternatively, drivers may use Route 24 for direct travel between Route 79 and I-195.
In addition to the closure of the Route 79 expressway, the U-turn bridge at Brightman Street has been permanently closed. This movement has been replaced with a U-turn from Davol Street northbound to southbound, located at the existing Cory Street underpass/ U-turn.
Detours will be in place for demolition of the bridges for Route 79 over the southern U-turn, President Avenue, and Cory Street U-turn. Only one cross street detour will occur at a time. More detailed detour routes are described below.
Detour Routes
All detour routes and other traffic changes will be clearly signed and marked.
*Short-term daily detours of the Cory Street U-Turn will continue as needed as the work progresses. Detours will occur during work hours and traffic patterns will be restored at the end of the working day.
Looking south at Veterans' Memorial Bridge.
Vehicles seeking to use cross-streets should utilize the following detours:
The Southern U Turn will be closed, so the following detours may have changed.
- Davol Street southbound to Davol Street northbound:
- Continue southbound to Central Street.
- Take the right turn onto Central Street and continue approximately .3 of a mile.
- Turn left onto Anawan Street and continue for .2 of a mile to the Fall River Expressway.
- Take a left to continue on the Fall River Expressway for .5 mile back to Route 79 northbound.
- Proceed to your destination.
- Davol Street northbound to Davol Street southbound:
- Proceed north to President Avenue
- Take the left turn onto President Avenue
- Turn Left onto Davol Street southbound.
- Proceed to your destination.
Pedestrians should continue to use temporary crossings on Route 79/Davol North and Southbound. Additional signage and markings will be provided to ensure pedestrian safety during construction.
Cory Street (U-turn)
- Davol Street northbound to Davol Street southbound:
- Proceed to the North Main Street Exit.
- Turn left on North Main and take on-ramp to Route 79 southbound.
- Merge onto Davol Street southbound.
- Proceed on Davol Street southbound.
- Continue to your destination.
- Davol Street southbound to Davol Street northbound:
- Proceed south on Davol Street.
- Turn left onto President Avenue.
- Turn left again onto Davol Street northbound.
- Continue to your destination.
Pedestrians and bicyclists seeking to use cross-streets should utilize the following detours:
Cory Street (U-turn)
- Davol Street northbound to Davol Street southbound:
- When heading west on Cory Street, take a left and head south.
- Continue along existing pedestrian crossings to President Avenue.
- Cross Davol Street northbound and southbound at the pedestrian crossing.
- Head north on Davol Street southbound to Cory Street.
- Continue to your destination.
- Davol Street southbound to Davol Street northbound:
- When heading east on Cory Street, take a right and head south.
- Continue along existing pedestrian crossings to President Avenue.
- Cross Davol Street southbound and northbound at the pedestrian crossing.
- Head north on Davol Street northbound to Cory Street.
- Continue to your destination.