TIVERTON/PORTSMOUTH — The R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Wednesday announced an updated schedule for temporary closures of the channel on the Sakonnet River where it passes underneath the old Sakonnet River Bridge in Tiverton and Portsmouth. 

The closures will now begin on Nov. 13 and will last approximately one month, according to RIDOT.

After Nov. 13, vessels will be unable to enter or pass through the channel while bridge demolition activities are underway from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. With later boating restrictions, RIDOT said it hopes to minimize the impact on the recreational boating community.

RIDOT will reopen the channel to marine traffic each day at 6 p.m. Additionally, the channel will be open all day on Sundays.

During this work, RIDOT will temporarily close the boat ramp on Riverside Drive, on the Tiverton side of the bridge. That closure is scheduled to begin Nov. 8 and last for approximately two weeks. Unlike the channel closure, the ramp will be closed 24 hours a day.

During this first phase of demolition, RIDOT is removing approximately 6.2 million pounds of steel and 2,700 cubic yards of concrete across 17 spans between the bridge's piers. The project is on time and on budget, with final completion scheduled for summer 2018.