COVENTRY – A $3.6 million bridge made of composite materials has opened in western Coventry, according to the R.I. Department of Transportation.
The Barbs Hill Road Bridge over the Moosup River replaces one that was structurally deficient, and that could no longer support vehicles or trucks exceeding 3 tons. School buses could also not cross it.
Installation of the replacement took place through the summer and fall, to coincide with low levels in the river to minimize environmental impact, according to a RIDOT news release.
The materials used included corrosion-resistant, fiber-reinforced polymer tubes, instead of traditional steel rebar embedded in concrete. Precast concrete components also were used to speed construction.
Funds from the Federal Highway Administration’s Innovative Bridge Research and Deployment Program were used for the project, which was made possible by RhodeWorks, a state initiative aimed at repairing bridges and improving the state’s transportation infrastructure while creating jobs.
Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.
