I-195 Eastbound Ramp to Route 18 to Close in December

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will close the ramp starting in December 2026 to facilitate major highway repairs.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Home Renovation

A section of highway bridge under reconstruction with exposed steel girders, piles of gravel, and safety cones under an overcast sky. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will close the I-195 eastbound ramp to Route 18 starting in December 2026 for a bridge rehabilitation project. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do long-term highway construction projects in your area make it harder to access downtown businesses?

Beginning in December 2026, the ramp connecting I-195 Eastbound to Route 18 Southbound will close to accommodate ongoing reconstruction in New Bedford. This closure is expected to last through the spring of 2029.

Why it matters

The ramp closure is a necessary step to clear sufficient workspace for the next phase of the $400 million highway rehabilitation project. Progress on the infrastructure upgrades is currently running nine months ahead of the original 2030 completion schedule.

The overall I-195 rehabilitation project carries a $400 million budget and is currently tracking nine months ahead of schedule. The highway, which was originally constructed in the 1960s, had remained largely untouched for 60 years.

The players

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

This state agency is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the highway and bridge infrastructure throughout Massachusetts.

The details

To maintain traffic flow during the closure, construction crews will mill and pave the existing median to establish a temporary crossover lane. Eastbound traffic will then be diverted onto a section of the newly constructed westbound bridge.

Construction on the highway from Westport to New Bedford began in 1963.
The extension reaching to Interstate 495 was completed in 1974.
The ramp will close and traffic will shift in December 2026.
The closed ramp is scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2029.
The project was originally planned for completion by 2030.

Culture Shift

This project reflects a broader societal move toward prioritizing the massive maintenance costs of mid-century infrastructure as systems reach the end of their design lives. These efforts mark a departure from the mid-1960s era of rapid highway expansion toward a focus on long-term sustainability.

Commuters traveling from I-195 Eastbound to Route 18 Southbound should prepare for traffic diversions onto the newly-built westbound viaduct starting in December 2026. Residents and local drivers should monitor official updates, as the accelerated project pace could shift future reopening dates.

The takeaway

Large-scale infrastructure projects often involve significant temporary route changes that require commuters to plan for alternative navigation. Staying informed on project milestones can help drivers adjust to long-term traffic pattern shifts in their area.