PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Two of the 13 companies being sued by the state over the failure of the Washington Bridge have fired back in court, alleging that the state concealed the true condition of the bridge before a rehabilitation project was put out to bid in 2021.
Barletta Heavy Division Inc. and Aetna Bridge Company filed a counterclaim in Superior Court on Thursday, arguing the R.I. Department of Transportation ignored a 1992 inspection report that recommended performing “additional radiographic and other testing to evaluate the strength of the key structural components of the Washington Bridge before any future attempts to rehabilitate the bridge.”
Sallie Hofmeister, a crisis communications professional, issued a statement Thursday on behalf of Barletta…