A change is coming to the Newport Pell Bridge off ramp. Here's what you need to know.

NEWPORT — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is expected to shift traffic from Route 138 East onto the new Route 138 extension road to Admiral Kalbfus Road on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 6, the department announced in a press release.

The new Route 138 extension will follow the path of a redesigned section of Halsey Street. Motorists entering Newport via the Pell Bridge will continue along Route 138 as they do today and follow it to a new traffic signal at Admiral Kalbfus Road.

To continue following Route 138 toward Middletown and Portsmouth, they will turn right at the traffic signal instead of left.

According to the release, this change will not affect traffic on JT Connell Highway northbound, which will continue to use the elevated highway over Admiral Kalbfus Road and end at the traffic signal in front of the former Newport Grand casino. That section of road will remain in service until spring 2023.

These changes come as a part of the $74 million Pell Bridge Ramps Phase 2 project to redesign the ramps connecting to the Pell Bridge. The new design also will free up approximately 25 acres of land for economic development by removing the "road to nowhere."

The first phase of construction began in 2020, focusing on smaller improvements to JT Connell Highway and Coddington Highway. It added the bike path to Coddington Highway, resurfaced the roadway and replaced sidewalks for about $10.9 million. The current phase is expected to finish by the end of 2024.

All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.