PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Transportation has received a $25 million federal grant for its project to rehabilitate the Washington Bridge in Providence, the R.I. congressional delegation announced Wednesday.
The grant, from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant program, is overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It brings federal funding for the bridge project to a total of $56 million. The rehabilitation project is projected to cost a total of $70 million.
The bridge was built in 1969 and carries roughly 70,000 vehicles per day on Route 195 between Providence and East Providence.
“This federal funding will mean the difference between just repairing the bridge for today and fixing it for the decades to come. It will mean faster and safer commutes and it will open the door to greater economic-development opportunities,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., in a statement.
The project is expected to extend the service life of the bridge by 30 years, according to RIDOT.
BUILD grants were distributed on a competitive basis.
