PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The bus tunnel connecting downtown Providence to the East Side will reopen next week, nearly seven months after closing for reconstruction, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) announced. Starting Thursday, Oct. 31, the detour will be lifted, and routes 1, 32, 33, 34, 40, and 61X will resume service through the East Side Transit Tunnel. The North Main Street bus shelter will reopen, temporary bus stops will be removed, and passengers can board at their usual stops. RELATED: RIPTA bus tunnel repairs snagged by stress cracks The tunnel was closed in late March for extensive repairs, which included new lighting, improved drainage, and renovations to the 110-year-old bus shelter near North Main Street. Originally built in 1914 to allow trolleys to reach College Hill, the 1,800-foot underground passage now serves RIPTA buses as a direct connection between downtown Providence and the city's East Side. The tunnel was initially scheduled to reopen in mid-September. However, an unexpected increase in repair costs — from $15.8 million to $23.3 million in August due to more than 20,000 feet of stress cracks — delayed completion until October. MORE: RIPTA bus tunnel to undergo $15 million facelift Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW