Providence, R.I. — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has selected Walsh Construction Co. to oversee the full replacement of the westbound I-195 Washington Bridge, a key piece of infrastructure that was abruptly closed late last year due to critical structural concerns.

The $339 million construction contract, announced in a recent state press release, is one of the largest infrastructure investments currently underway in Rhode Island. With additional costs for inspections, contingencies, and performance incentives, the total value of the deal could rise to $427 million.

The incentive structure aims to fast-track the reopening of the bridge’s travel lanes and penalize delays. The state will offer up to $10 million in bonuses if new lanes open ahead of schedule and impose penalties of $25,000 per day for timeline overruns, according to officials.

Closure Triggered by Urgent Safety Concerns

The westbound portion of the Washington Bridge, which opened in 1968, was shut down in December 2023 following an inspection that flagged broken tie-down rods as a safety hazard. An engineering audit released in March 2024 confirmed the severity of the damage, citing "unsound concrete, corrosion and structural deficiencies that cannot be viably repaired.” Officials determined that demolition and full replacement were the only viable options.

The bridge typically carried nearly 100,000 vehicles per day, and its sudden closure created widespread traffic congestion and commuter disruption, leading to mounting pressure on state agencies to expedite a long-term solution.

Construction Timeline and Scope

Walsh Construction, a firm with national experience in bridge projects, is expected to begin preliminary site work, including surveying, materials procurement, and workforce mobilization, in July 2025. Full construction will follow, with the state setting a completion deadline of November 2028.

The project is Walsh’s third time building a similar bridge within the past three years, the release noted, underscoring the company’s experience with large-scale transportation infrastructure.

New Design Focuses on Longevity and Mobility

The new structure is being designed for a 100-year lifespan and will feature modern engineering updates aimed at improving both durability and traffic flow. Major components of the project include:

• Expanding from four lanes to five to accommodate more vehicles and alleviate congestion.
• New on-ramp from Gano Street and off-ramp to Waterfront Drive, enhancing local connectivity.
• Redesigned travel lanes to reduce longstanding traffic bottlenecks.
• A shorter bridge footprint — over 450 feet less than the original — which will require fewer supporting piers in the Seekonk River.
• New substructure built with modern materials for better resilience.
• Aesthetic enhancements, including prefabricated arches to mirror the original bridge’s appearance and lighting along the northern deck for visual appeal and safety.

“Our goal was to provide a design and a plan to build a bridge that will carry 80,000 vehicles every day safely for 100 years,” said Rhode Island DOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. in the release. “This contract achieves that goal.”

Regional and Economic Impact

The bridge replacement is not only critical for commuters but also central to regional economic vitality. The I-195 corridor connects Providence to East Providence, serving as a vital artery for daily commuters, freight movement, and emergency response routes.

Once completed, the new bridge is expected to streamline traffic, reduce emissions from idling cars, and improve public safety, while also restoring confidence in a key piece of Rhode Island’s aging infrastructure.

Originally reported by Jennifer Goodman in Construction Dive.