PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The estimated cost to demolish the defunct westbound Washington Bridge has ballooned to nearly $100 million after the McKee administration decided to expand the project to include tearing down the bridge’s substructure.
The R.I. Department of Transportation submitted a so-called “change order” to its existing contract with Aetna Bridge Co., which was awarded earlier this year.
The documents show an additional cost of $38.4 million, which would increase the full cost of the demolition by 66%, up from the $58.2 million that RIDOT had previously budgeted.
Aetna’s contract accounts for well over 80% of the overall demolition budget.
Documents indicate the revised contract was signed Wednesday, but state officials didn’t release it publicly until Friday afternoon.
The soaring price tag comes after Gov. Dan McKee and RIDOT Director Peter Alviti announced Tuesday they have decided to have Aetna demolish everything that stands in the Seekonk River and holds up the existing westbound bridge deck.