Washington Bridge Replacement Costs Surge Amid Accountability Concerns

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The ongoing construction of the Washington Bridge replacement shows significant activity as workers strive to meet new deadlines.

News Summary

The cost of the Washington Bridge replacement has dramatically increased to an estimated $570 million, raising accountability issues among state officials. The bridge, closed since December 2023 due to serious structural failures, is now projected to take until November 2028 for completion. The state initiated litigation against several contractors for negligence, and local leaders express frustration over the bridge’s closure significantly affecting Rhode Islanders through job losses and dwindling hospitality revenues.

Providence, Rhode Island – The cost of replacing the Washington Bridge has skyrocketed, leading to growing concerns regarding accountability from state officials. This critical infrastructure, which links I-195 and I-95, has been closed since December 11, 2023, due to significant structural failures. Initially estimated to cost between $250 million and $300 million with an expected completion date of early 2026, the project has now seen its budget balloon dramatically.

Recent announcements by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) revealed that the construction contract awarded to Walsh Construction Company is set at $339 million. However, experts warn that this sum could rise to as high as $427 million when factoring in additional costs. This increase in price has sparked public outcry as McKee and Alviti faced scrutiny over their failure to disclose the total replacement costs, which have exceeded initial projections by over $100 million due to emergency and demolition expenses.

The demolition of the Washington Bridge was initially budgeted at $40 million, but unforeseen change orders and cost overruns have drastically raised these figures. The contractor, Aetna Bridge Company, received a no-bid change order for an extra $38.4 million, bringing the total demolition costs to approximately $84.2 million. Such financial discrepancies have raised serious questions about the management and transparency of the project.

House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi emphasized the significant impact the bridge’s closure has had on Rhode Islanders for over 18 months. He underscored the necessity for precise fiscal oversight regarding the ever-growing bridge budget as fatigue sets in for local residents reliant on this vital transportation route.

Further complicating matters, Governor McKee announced a new estimated completion date for the replacement bridge, pushing it back to November 2028. This represents a considerable delay from previous timelines and adds frustration for commuters and businesses alike.

The project’s overall cost has now escalated to an estimated $570 million, which includes previous emergency repairs and ongoing litigation challenges. This has sparked an economic examination of the bridge’s closure, with a report from Salve Regina University estimating a staggering $114 million loss in hospitality revenues and approximately 1,300 jobs lost as a direct result of the bridge’s inaccessibility.

The state has initiated litigation against 13 contractors, holding them accountable for negligence related to the identification of structural problems with the bridge. In an effort to expedite the project, Walsh Construction Company has been awarded the contract for the bridge’s reconstruction following adjustments necessary due to a lack of initial bidders on the first request for proposals.

Once completed, the new Washington Bridge is expected to handle more than 90,000 vehicles daily and feature additional lanes to alleviate congestion in the area. The state has also built in incentives for early project completion and penalties for delays, reflecting the urgent need for resolution and accountability in a project that has become emblematic of infrastructure challenges across the nation.

As the community waits for both resolution and accountability, state officials are under increasing pressure to address escalating costs and restore critical connectivity to Rhode Island’s transportation network.