Home Economy Economic Activity State halts demolition of Washington Bridge to preserve evidence for lawsuit

State halts demolition of Washington Bridge to preserve evidence for lawsuit

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PBN Staff

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09/18/2024

bF1O76wI-washbridgepic-696x385-1-1 — DEMOLITION OF the westbound side of the Washington Bridge has been halted to preserve evidence for the state’s legal battle, according to a statement from the office of Gov. Daniel J. McKee. PBN FILE PHOTO/WILLIAM HAMILTON

PROVIDENCE – Demolition of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge has been halted to preserve evidence for the state’s legal battle, according to a statement from Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s office. “The engineers for [the R.I. Department of Transportation], in cooperation with the state’s legal team, have reached the point in the demolition of

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PROVIDENCE – Demolition of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge has been halted to preserve evidence for the state’s legal battle, according to a statement from Gov. Daniel J. McKee's office. “The engineers for [the R.I. Department of Transportation], in cooperation with the state’s legal team, have reached the point in the demolition of the Washington Bridge where work must be paused to preserve evidence for the legal case," the statement read. “The goal is to be able to continue demolition as swiftly as possible while ensuring important evidence is preserved.” Demolition of the bridge’s westbound side, which was closed last December, began on Sept. 8. The abrupt closure of the bridge’s westbound side, which connects Interstate 195 from Rhode Island’s East Bay to Providence, has disrupted traffic and businesses. In March, the state announced that the westbound side needed to be replaced, with McKee proclaiming that a “day of reckoning” will come to hold those responsible for allowing the bridge to deteriorate to the point of near failure. On Aug. 16, the state filed a lawsuit against 13 companies that provided design, construction and inspection services for the Washington Bridge. The defendants in the lawsuit include: AECOM Technical Services Inc.; Aetna Bridge Co.; Aries Support Services Inc.; Barletta Heavy Division Inc.; Barletta/Aetna I-195 Washington Bridge North Phase 2 JV; Collins Engineers Inc.: Commonwealth Engineers Consultants Inc.; Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.; Michael Baker International Inc.; Prime AE Group Inc.; Steere Engineering Inc.; Transystems Corp.; and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. The complaint, filed in Providence County Superior Court by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, alleges the companies failed to “timely and adequately” identify the bridge’s worsening structural problems that ultimately led to its unexpected closure in December 2023. According to the state, there were “multiple failures over multiple years” that ultimately brought it to the R.I. Department of Transportation’s attention. The complaint brings claims of breach of contract, fiduciary duty and negligence against the companies, with the claims varying among the defendants. McKee’s office did not provide a timeline or a date when the demolition will resume.