PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has announced that the East Side Tunnel will officially reopen to bus service on October 31. The tunnel has been closing following extensive renovations. With the reopening, detours that have been in place since March 25, 2024, will be lifted, and all affected bus routes will return to their regular routing through the tunnel. The bus routes that have been affected include Routes 1, 32, 33, 34, 40, and 61X. The tunnel was originally built in 1914 to support the city’s former trolley system to connect downtown Providence to the East Side and beyond. The renovation project focused on improving drainage, lighting, and structural integrity of the tunnel, as well as the restoration of the 110-year-old bus shelter on North Main Street. “We are happy to reopen the East Side Tunnel to our riders after months of hard work and careful restoration,” said Christopher Durand, interim Chief Executive Officer. “We greatly appreciate our riders’ patience during construction and are excited to welcome passengers back to this historic transit corridor,” he said. RIPTA will host a formal press conference on October 30, 2024 at 11am to commemorate the completion of construction and reopening of the historic tunnel. Categories: News