The northbound lanes of the new Sakonnet River Bridge are scheduled to open tomorrow, according to a press release sent this morning by the RI Dept. of Transportation (RIDOT).

"With tomorrow's milestone opening of the new Sakonnet River Bridge to northbound traffic, we will reduce the lengthy detour that the motoring public has used over the past four years," said RIDOT Director Michael Lewis in the press release. "We thank the two host communities of Tiverton and Portsmouth for their continued patience and support during this project."

RIDOT expects the southbound lanes to open in "approximately one week." Here's some more detail from the release:

The new bridge is 2,265 feet long and approximately 96 feet wide. There are two 12-foot lanes in each direction with wide shoulders. Mariners will find a wider passage under the bridge's center span and the new bridge maintains the minimum vertical clearance over the river of 65 feet.
Once all traffic has been shifted to the new bridge, work will continue on approach roads on both sides of the span. Demolition of segments of the old bridge must take place before this work is finalized. RIDOT expects construction activities on the segments of Route 24 approaching the bridge to be ongoing through Spring 2013.

All construction on the new bridge is expected to wrap up in 2013, including the opening of a bike path along the northern edge of the new bridge and the connecting paths to local streets on both sides of the bridge. Work on the bike path approach segments is expected to begin in Spring 2013.

Also in 2013, RIDOT expects to advertise for a construction project for the demolition of the old Sakonnet River Bridge.

Editorial note: Written from a press release.