PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Frustration with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is mounting following Monday’s revelation that the westbound side of the Washington Bridge may need to be demolished and completely rebuilt.
The bridge, which connects East Providence to Providence via I-195, has been closed since mid-December , when a junior engineer uncovered the critical failure of the steel anchor rods that hold the bridge’s major beams in place.
RIDOT Director Peter Alviti initially estimated it would take three months to repair the bridge. But he acknowledged Tuesday that engineers discovered more structural deficiencies while repairing the steel anchor rods that will likely take longer to address.
Alviti stopped short of identifying those newfound deficiencies. He said engineers are still in the process of taking a “comprehensive look” at the bridge’s overall structure to determine whether it needs to be torn down.