The US government has awarded US$125.4 million to the state of Rhode Island to replace a concrete bridge closed in December last year after a critical failure was discovered during rehab.
The Washington Bridge in the Rhode Island town of Providence was built in the 1960s using an unusual technique involving pre-stressed and post-tensioned concrete.
The grant is a substantial portion of the US$850 million available nationally for infrastructure projects. But the state of Rhode Island initially applied for US$220.9 million for the Washington Bridge replacement. Rhode Island Department of Transport estimates the cost of the demolition and the design-build will total US$426.5 million.
The state of Rhode Island earlier this year secured a US$251 million federal bridge investment grant to repair 15 highway bridges. It awarded a contract for part of this work in August (link opens in new tab).
