The governor of Rhode Island has named one of the USA’s top bridge builders as the contractor for the replacement of the failed Washington Bridge.
Walsh Construction Company bid US$339 million for the project. It will start work in July, with a completion date in November 2028.
Washington Bridge over the Seekonk River in the Rhode Island town of Providence was built in the 1960s using an unusual technique involving pre-stressed and post-tensioned concrete. Its westbound span was closed in December 2023 after the discovery during a rehab project of a critical failure.
The state of Rhode Island received a US$125.4 million grant from the federal government last October (link opens in new tab) towards the project to replace the westbound span. This will cover part of the estimated US$427 million cost of the demolition and design-build.
The new design will have features that make inspection and maintenance easier, and it will have a 100-year life.
The bridge demolition will be led by Aetna Bridge Company and designed by Jacobs.
