PROVIDENCE – Will a new request for proposals be sent out soon seeking contractors to build a new westbound side of the Washington Bridge?
R.I. Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. on Tuesday told WPRI-TV CBS 12 that Gov. Danil J. McKee's administration hopes to release a new RFP by the end of the week seeking bids to replace the westbound Interstate 195 bridge, a key connection between the East Bay and Providence. It's estimated the project will cost $400 million.
This comes after the state
received zero bids for the project in July following an earlier request for proposals.
State officials had initially set an aggressive timeline – with incentives and disincentives – for rebuilding the westbound side of the bridge – which abruptly closed in December when inspectors discovered significant deterioration. They had hoped to have the bridge rebuilt and open by 2026, which was among the major reasons why no contractors bid for the job.
Since then, state officials issued a request for information, asking construction companies for feedback on how to complete the project.
“I’m doing everything I can to try and get that to be seen this week,” Alviti told WPRI. “There are some steps that have to happen prior to doing it. We have it pretty much ready to go out the door.”
Alviti declined to tell WPRI if the westbound side would reopen by 2026, saying he would leave it up to contractors to determine how quickly the work can be done. “We’re looking to get it built as quickly as we possibly can, and for the best price that we can,” he said.
After a new RFP is distributed, how soon companies will respond remains unclear. In August, the state brought forth its “day of reckoning” by announcing it’s
suing 13 companies that provided design, construction and inspection services for the Washington Bridge. The lawsuit alleges the companies failed to “timely and adequately” identify the bridge’s worsening structural problems that ultimately led to its closure. According to the state, there were “multiple failures over multiple years” that ultimately brought it to RIDOT’s attention.
Demolition to the westbound bridge
started in early September but then
stopped 10 days later to preserve evidence for the state’s legal battle.
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.
