Potential rebuild of key R.I. bridge could take two years, federal official says

The head of the Federal Highway Administration toured the area around the Washington Bridge on Monday, underscoring how the westbound position of the bridge may need to be replaced.

“The reason I came up here today is because of the transition from a repair to a potential replacement,” FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt told reporters after visiting the site.

A decision on whether to repair or replace the bridge along I-195 West is expected after additional engineering details become available, a development expected in the next few weeks.

The bridge, which carries drivers about 100,0000 drivers per day between Providence and East Providence, faced an abrupt westbound shutdown in December after critical structural issues were discovered. East Providence boarders Seekonk, Massachusetts, making it a key route for Bay State commuters heading in to Rhode Island.

If the westbound portion needs to be demolished and rebuilt, Bhatt said federal officials will try to come up with money to help pay for that, and he said the process could take roughly two years.

Rhode Island’s congressional delegation remains in touch with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Bhatt said.

“When bridges close, communities really feel the impact,” he said during a news conference attended by Gov. Dan McKee, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, the mayors of Providence and East Providence, U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo and U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. “Our hearts go out to the people who are really bearing the impacts of this.”

If the westbound portion of the bridge does need to be replaced, Bhatt said his agency will assist with efforts to mitigate traffic.

Bhatt declined to respond directly to questions about how the bridge was found to have serious structural flaws in December, months after being declared sound during an inspection. But he praised state officials for closing the bridge when the problem developed to preserve safety.

The Public’s Radio in Rhode Island and WBUR have a partnership in which the news organizations collaborate and share stories. This story was originally published by The Public's Radio.