The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) provided the following update on the Newport Pell Bridge deck repair project on Friday, October 6th.
The project is moving along smoothly and remains on schedule. This phase of the deck repair work in the westbound travel lanes is complete.The work included removing the old concrete by utilizing a scarifying machine and hydro-demolition, as well as completing necessary repairs to the steel rebar beneath. Fresh concrete has been poured and as the concrete hardens, core samples will be taken and tested. It takes up to 7 days for the concrete to properly harden. This section of the bridge will remain closed until the concrete achieves the proper strength and density and passes official testing. The work will then switch to the eastbound lanes.This phase of the project with permanent 24/7 single travel lanes in each direction is scheduled through November 2017.
For more information on the project and to access real-time traffic updates visit RITBA.org

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...