Next bridge blast is today

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) had announced that the next underwater demolition for the old Jamestown Bridge is scheduled to take place today at noon. The detonations will be comprised of two pier segments on the North Kingstown side of the bridge.

The detonations will be similar to four underwater demolition events in August and the latest on Sept. 14. Traffic impacts on the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge will be kept to a minimum during the demolition time frame. Just before the detonations, state police will execute a "rolling block" by moving very slowly in all lanes of travel to momentarily clear traffic from the bridge.

This approach should avoid the need to conduct a 30-minute closure of the bridge, as was originally planned for the underwater detonations. Between four and five more underwater detonations are planned in the next several weeks, with the next coming approximately two weeks after Thursday's blast.

Adverse weather conditions or safety concerns could cause a delay in the detonation.