(Updated, April 8, 4:45 p.m.) The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will shift the location of the crossover from the westbound side of Interstate 195 to the eastbound side and eventually over the Washington Bridge as part of what the state authority claims in an "ongoing project to reduce congestion and travel times and provide three lanes of travel in both directions."

RIDOT said the initial shift in the crossover point for west to east will soon occur a half-mile closer to the bridge rather than back towards the state line with Massachusetts nearer to the East Shore Expressway.

The work needed to be performed to effort the change will happen during the overnight hours Monday, April 8, and will be complete before the morning commute on Tuesday, April 9.

The following morning, Wednesday, April 10, is when the new three-lane configuration on the eastbound portion of the bridge will be open for traffic. The full implementation of three lanes of travel in each direction is expected to be completed by April 22.

A statement issued by the department Monday, April 8, noted RIDOT "is taking advantage of a window of good weather" ahead of anticipated rains at the end of the week. The plan is to restripe the highway overnight into the morning of April 10 and put part of the new traffic pattern into place.

With the change for eastbound travelers, drivers can expect:

• Lanes will be reduced in width. The left and center lanes will be 10 feet wide, and trucks will be restricted to the far-right lane, which will be 11 feet wide. RIDOT will post signage that trucks must use the far-right lane only.
• The speed limit on I-195 East will be reduced to 40 mph.
• In addition to reducing their speed, drivers should stay in their lane and refrain from any distractions.

RIDOT this week is beginning an informational advertising campaign to prepare travelers, utilizing print, broadcast and social media and electronic message signs to inform travelers of the new three-lane traffic configuration.

 Following the establishment of the three-lane configuration for eastbound drivers this week, RIDOT will install new median barrier prior to implementing the three-lane configuration for westbound traffic.

RIDOT, along with traffic engineering and structural engineering consultants and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) traffic experts, have certified that the eastbound bridge structure is sufficient to carry the extra lane.

Because of the three-lane configuration eastbound, traffic entering the highway from South Water Street and India Street will need to merge with the right travel lane when entering the highway. This may cause delays for motorists using this ramp to enter onto I-195 East during rush hour.

Once the three-lane configuration is fully put into place, RIDOT will remove the lane reduction on I-195 West just east of the East Shore Expressway near the state line, which was installed in early February. This will no longer be needed with the three-lane configuration.

The schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change.