The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) estimates the Washington Bridge will cost $40.52 million for demolition and $368.3 million for design-and-build work.
Governor Dan McKee’s office announced Monday that the state is pursuing a federal grant to fund 60% of the bridge’s construction costs.
McKee’s office said the state submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a National Infrastructure Project Assistance discretionary grant, also known as a Mega Grant, of $220.9 million. The application will also include letters of support from Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation and private partners.
The federal government has $1.7 billion in Mega Grants available for transportation projects that are difficult to fund by other means. McKee’s office said the state would need to borrow considerably less than the full $334.6 million if it were awarded a Mega Grant.
The state has a plan to use $37 million in repurposed federal funding from earlier work on the Washington Bridge, $40 million in anticipated Motor Fuel Vehicle Tax revenues, $20 million in reallocated American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and $23.6 million in other sources if additional dollars are needed.
The state is currently estimating costs of approximately $46 million for emergency expenses, including work to stabilize the old bridge and estimated funding to account for both state and municipal safety and transportation-related expenses.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has recently posted a request for proposals (RFP) inviting contractors to submit their bids for the replacement of the Washington Bridge. The RFP offers incentives for early completion of lane openings, with rates ranging from $5,000 to $70,000 per day. The deadline for final proposals is July 3, with interim submission requirements prior to that date.
In the wake of the sudden closure of the crucial Washington Bridge due to a critical failure of key components, the Rhode Island congressional delegation is actively seeking federal assistance to expedite the repair process. In a joint statement, Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, have pledged to collaborate with federal, state, and local leaders to reopen the bridge as swiftly as possible. The delegation has urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to accelerate approvals and provide technical assistance for detours, shuttle services, and other potential impacts on the community. The Washington Bridge, which accommodates Interstate 195 and witnesses approximately 100,000 crossings daily, serves as a vital gateway to Providence and is estimated to require several months for repairs.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
