* May 27: The Friendship Street on-ramp to Route 195 east will close permanently. Drivers who traditionally use the on-ramp can travel on the southbound Service Road, turn left on Point Street, cross Route 95, and turn left onto Hoppin Street to use the new temporary ramp to Route 195 east. The DOT will replace the Friendship Street on-ramp with a permanent ramp from Plain Street to Route 195 east later this year.

*May 29: Route 95 north Exit 20 -- the old Route 195 east exit -- will close for good. Route 95 north drivers won't be able to use it to get to Exits 1 (Downtown) and 2 (Wickenden Street) on the old stretch of Route 195. Drivers on Route 95 north will need to use the Iway to get to the East Side, East Providence and Massachusetts. The change does not affect Route 95 south drivers who want to access old Route 195 Exits 1 and 2.

The DOT said it must take Exit 20 -- from Route 95 north only -- out of service so construction crews can start demolishing the old parts of Route 195 and to allow continuing Iway construction.

To get to parts of Providence that had been reachable from Exits 1 and 2, the DOT suggested the following alternative routes for Route 95 north drivers:

* For the College Hill/Fox Point/Lower East Side, drivers can take the Iway (Exit 19) and use the new Iway Exit 2. That will provide immediate access to Gano Street via India Street.

* For the Jewelry District and the J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex, drivers must take Exit 18 (Thurbers Avenue) and follow Allens Avenue north.

* For Downtown, drivers should stay on Route 95 north, take Exit 22A (Downtown/Memorial Boulevard) and head straight at the end of the ramp onto Memorial Boulevard.

The DOT urged drivers to plan ahead. Information will be available by calling 511 and listening to the Highway Advisory Radio System on 1630 AM. Motorists may also call the DOT customer service at (401) 222-2450 on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.