Newport Pell Bridge work is causing long morning commutes. What to know before traveling

Conanicut Island is a beautiful place, but for morning commuters a trip to Jamestown has become a less-than-pleasant experience.

Work on the Newport Pell Bridge and toll gantry requires travelers along Route 138 eastbound to merge into one lane just before the gantry resulting in traffic tie-ups lasting more than an hour on some days as morning rush hour commuters cross the island in an attempt to reach Aquidneck Island.

Along the way, travelers are met with electronic signboards even before they cross the Jamestown Bridge asking motorists to use both lanes until the merge. Into the first week of the project, Lori Caron Silveira, the executive director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, also authored a letter to the editor asking people to employ the zipper merge technique to keep traffic flowing as much as possible.

As traffic backs up, some effects are being experienced beyond the frustration felt by commuters.

What's being done between the bridge and toll gantry

The improvement project began on Oct. 16, with eastbound traffic reduced to one lane in a 900-yard stretch between the old toll plaza and the bridge. Traffic has also been reduced to one lane for the same distance on the westbound side. The first phases of work requiring these lane restrictions are expected to be completed in April.

The improvements include rehabilitation of a single-span approach bridge structure, realignment/reconstruction of the highway to bring it up to current design standards, installation of a new toll gantry, and finally demolition of the current toll plaza.

What is a zipper merge?

The zipper method, in which drivers merge late, is based on the idea of a zipper's "teeth." Just as a zipper smoothly comes together, a zipper merge can keep traffic flowing in both lanes by bringing some organization to the merging process, AAA says.

"The zipper merge has shown to keep traffic moving more smoothly, compared to a less structured approach," William Van Tassel, American Automobile Association manager of Driver Training Programs told USA Today in 2019.

A zipper merge is recommended because leaving a lane unoccupied as a result of early merging is inefficient. It only makes traffic heavier, proponents say.

Increased traffic on town roads in Jamestown

With traffic backing up to the Jamestown Bridge, some have taken to exiting Route 138 and traveling onto local roads in an effort to circumvent the long line of vehicles.

With that expected, Jamestown Town Administrator Edward Mello said preparations for potential impacts started before lane closures went into place.

"Prior to the construction beginning, town staff including the police chief met with Bridge Authority staff to develop the best available method to deal with the construction and anticipated impact on the traffic," Mello said in an email. "As expected, we do see delays in the morning hours and this does result in a moderate amount of traffic seeking the alternate” route through the village. The police have been monitoring this traffic and working toward mitigating that impact."

Police Chief Jamie Campbell said his department has taken actions such as putting out the speed alert sign and increased enforcement, especially along North Road. He also noted that after hearing from residents about drivers not stopping or rolling through the stop sign, officers have increased their presence at the Helm Street exit.

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Campbell also noted the morning commute time coincides with school pickup, asking motorists to be careful.

"It's not the first time this type of bridge construction has happened so people in town are familiar with this," Campbell said. "I just hope as time goes by, people start getting to work earlier or adjusting their commutes if they can."

Impact on Newport tourism

While the busy summer season is now in the rearview mirror, there are still plenty of people heading to Newport to enjoy the upcoming holiday season or attend events and weddings.

With most of the traffic backups happening on weekday mornings, Discover Newport President and CEO Evan Smith said he doesn't expect to have much of an impact on people visiting the City-by-the-Sea.

"I haven't gotten a complaint yet from employers or visitors and I'm usually the first one they call," Smith said.

Opinion/Guest View: Patience is key during Newport Pell Bridge work

Smith said he expects most people caught up in the traffic are heading to the Navy base or Salve Regina University and CCRI.

Still, Smith, a resident of Jamestown, remembers when traffic was a regular occurrence in Jamestown for people headed to the Newport Pell Bridge. He recalls some neighborhoods putting chains across roadways to stop people from using the roads as cut-throughs

"I hope it doesn't become a flashback," Smith said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Newport Pell Bridge work results in traffic tie-ups in Jamestown