Sailboats on the Interstate

A tourist and commuter gateway to Providence is now looking more like a day off.

A mural depicting sailboats on the Narragansett Bay designed by local artist Anthony Russo now adorns the Wampanoag Overpass bridge over Interstate 195 in East Providence.

“This is the first step in beautifying Rhode Island’s urban Interstate gateways,” Governor Chafee says in a news release. “We are proud of our maritime traditions, and this mural celebrates the return of the America’s Cup competition after a thirty-year hiatus. Images like this one make Rhode Island a better place to live, work, and visit.”

Contractor E.F. O’Donnell and Sons of Providence worked with muralist Johan Bjurman on the project, which included repairs to the surface of the bridge. The project cost $83,702. Eighty percent of that  was covered by a federal match and $17,000 was state money, much of which was used to fix the surface of the wall, according to Rhode Island Department of Transportation spokeswoman Heidi Gudmundson. BankRI, Fidelity Investments and the Rhode Island Commodores donated the funds for the $2,500 honorarium Russo received.

Next up for beautification? Two more murals are expected to be installed later this year on I-95 North at Exchange Street in Pawtucket and on I-95 South at Jefferson Street in Providence.