The plan prepared by Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) also covers preservation activities that will keep another 500 bridges from becoming structurally deficient.
RIDOT's initiative is a first for Rhode Island and only the third long-range plan of its type adopted in the USA.
The 10-year plan's asset management-driven approach identifies needed repairs or new construction at a time in a road or bridge's lifespan when work is far less expensive than full reconstruction or replacement. This approach is designed to ensure that Rhode Island will reach the federal minimum standard of 90% structural sufficiency for bridges by 2025 – which is seven years earlier than under previous initiatives.
The plan provides the structure necessary to deliver more than US$4bn-worth of road and bridge improvements and, when implemented, will save US$950m in bridge replacement and repair costs.
"The final approval of RIDOT's 10-year plan is a significant milestone on the journey to rebuild our roads and bridges," said governor Gina Raimondo. "It creates a blueprint for how we're going to address our structural bridge deficiencies, create jobs and economic opportunities, and keep our infrastructure in good condition and safe for all users."
