As a result of concrete conditions, traffic volumes, and the estimated cost of a seismic retrofit, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced that it will replace the Washington Bridge 200 (eastbound) which is located on Route195 at the Providence/East Providence line.
DOT officials said prior to the bridge’s replacement, two years of repair work would also be necessary.
“During the Washington Bridge’s immediate repair and future replacement, Rhode Islanders need to know that this bridge is safe for travel,” said William D. Ankner, RIDOT director.
Built in the 1930s, DOT official said the bridge is no longer considered “state of the art.”
At the present time, the adjacent portion of I-195 that is only three lanes restricts the volume of eastbound traffic that crosses the bridge. In order to allow for the design and construction of the replacement structure, interim rehabilitation measures will begin in June 2001, at the cost of $4 million. According to the DOT the primary focus of the interim rehabilitation would be to provide an acceptable riding surface on Route 195. The new bridge construction is estimated (without the benefit of any design work) at $75 million, which includes the demolition of the existing bridge. If started now, the DOT expect the environmental process, design and construction to be completed in six to seven years.
“Our extensive testing shows that the concrete is now in a patchwork quilt-like condition of bad concrete that is next to good concrete that is next to more bad concrete,” said James R. Capaldi, RIDOT chief engineer. “There is no way to take just the bad concrete out without taking the good with it. It’s safe but it can’t be repaired.”
RIDOT officials said they would have considered a repair option, but that would have required the removal of all traffic from the bridge — a concept that they said would “devastate” the local and regional traffic. As a result, RIDOT said they had no choice but to replace the bridge.
RIDOT found a similar situation in the Ashton Viaduct that connects the towns of Cumberland and Lincoln. Both the Ashton and Washington Bridge 200 are concrete arch bridges with columns. The state has only one other bridge of this kind, the Stillwater Viaduct in Smithfield. Its condition is currently being inspected as part of the rehabilitation project.
