The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has announced that a new intersection near the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge will soon open as part of an ongoing reconfiguration project. Starting from the night of Thursday, March 30, the new traffic pattern will reconnect J.T. Connell Highway, enabling northbound drivers to go straight through the intersection to reach the roundabout towards Middletown, while still allowing them to turn right to access the bridge. Southbound drivers will also be able to go straight through the intersection towards downtown Newport, but those on Admiral Kalbfus Road will still need to go south on Halsey Boulevard to access the bridge. RIDOT has also revealed plans to open a new on-ramp to the bridge from J.T. Connell Highway from mid-April, eliminating the need for a traffic light.