Interstate 95 remained closed in Rhode Island Thursday as the state continued to contend with the worst floods in more than 100 years, news services reported.
State transportation officials closed a section of Interstate 95 Tuesday in Warwick near the state’s main airport due to the extensive flooding in the region.
“We probably have about a dozen bridges that we’ll be following up with special inspections to make sure that there’s no problem with them,” said Charles St. Martin, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano plans to visit Rhode Island Friday, the Associated Press reported, and President Obama issued an emergency declaration for the state, ordering federal aid and authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate efforts.
National Guard troops were deployed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the town of Stonington, Conn., was largely isolated after two of its three bridges washed out, AP said. A bridge also gave out in Freetown, Mass., isolating about 1,000 residents.
For the I-95 detour, RIDOT asked northbound motorists to use exit 11, then follow Route 37 to return to the highway, while southbound motorists were advised to exit 14 to westbound route 37, then use southbound I-295 to return to I-95.
The closed section of I-95, the major direct route between New York and Boston, was covered in more than three feet of water, the Providence Journal reported.
RIDOT warned drivers to expect additional road closings as flooding continues from the historic rains in the region. The department said it would update information as conditions warrant.
