PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The McKee administration is hoping to release a second solicitation for bids to build the new westbound Washington Bridge by the end of this week, R.I. Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti told 12 News on Tuesday.
The new timeline for moving forward comes nearly three months after no contractors bid on RIDOT’s first solicitation for the bridge project, and more than nine months after the agency abruptly closed the heavily trafficked span on I-195 West due to structural failures.
During his monthly interview on 12 News at 4, Alviti said he is excited about the new request for proposals and expects companies to be interested in building the bridge.
After the initial bid process failed, RIDOT issued a request for information (RFI) about the bridge — effectively, a survey asking companies for feedback on how to do the project.
“I’m doing everything I can to try and get that to be seen this week,” Alviti said of the new RFP. “There are some steps that have to happen prior to doing it. We have it pretty much ready to go out the door.”