Rhode Island DOT will begin this week the construction of two of 14 trucks-only toll locations.The Rhode Island Department of Transportation this week will begin the construction of the first two trucks-only toll gantries in the state, which are expected to begin tolling approximately a month after they are installed.
Specific rates for the first two toll locations, in Exeter and Richmond, have not yet been set, but a November report from the Federal Highway Administration assumes a “conservative range” of $3.50 to $4.50 per toll location. Tolls will be limited to once per toll facility per day in each direction, with a $20 total to travel I-95 across the state. Tolls cannot exceed $40 per day.
As part of the RhodeWorks plan signed into law in 2016, a total of 14 toll locations will be installed throughout the state.
In order to complete the installation of the first two locations, RIDOT will implementing single-lane closures on I-95 throughout the week this week. These lane closures are scheduled for I-95 North and South from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day this week. The impacted locations are approximately 1 mile north of exit 2, and approximately 3 miles south of exit 5.
On Wednesday night, Feb. 14, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday morning, RIDOT will close a single lane on I-95 South for installation of the overhead tolling components. The following night, crews will close lane lane for I-95 North to do the same work.
RIDOT says after the gantries are installed, its tolling contractor will begin an approximate one-month test of the system before the tolls go live to truckers.
