I-95 Reopens After Extensive Rhode Island Flooding

April 5, 2010 - Warwick - Interstate 95, one of the nation's busiest freeways and the main thoroughfare between New York and Boston, was shut down for several days during New England's massive flooding. According to reports at Transport Topics Online, Interstate 95 was closed near Warwick on Tuesday because of nearly 3 feet of water on the roadway.

Most of the I-95 bridges escaped serious damage, but the Rhode Island Department of Transportation needs to inspect at least 12 bridges to make sure they didn't sustain minor damage that could cause a problem later on. By Thursday, both the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95 were reopened to traffic, but the two-day closure caused serious headaches for commuters.

Most traffic was diverted to Route 1 in Warwick, and motorists tell NECN.com that the detour created severe traffic problems. Many local residents were unable to get to work on time -- or at all -- and gridlock caused a mess for people traveling through New England.

While I-95 has been reopened, the Department of Transportation has not put a dollar figure on the damage or discussed how many repairs will be needed along the freeway.