PROVIDENCE, R.I. WPRI — The demolition of the westbound portion of the Washington Bridge has been unexpectedly halted as the R.I. Department of Transportation preserves evidence for an ongoing legal battle.
Despite this setback, Governor Dan McKee remains optimistic that work will resume soon.
I’m not anticipating that, McKee said when asked if legal proceedings need to commence before the demolition can continue.
We’re following the legal advice, and I think that what I’m hearing from the attorney general is that the demolition is going to start soon.
The state recently secured $125 million in federal funding to assist with the bridge replacement project. McKee noted that this grant will help manage costs without raising taxes for residents.
The estimated total cost for the project, including both demolition and reconstruction, is projected to be around $473 million, with expectations that this figure may increase.
Despite the current pause, officials anticipate that the full demolition will be completed by the first quarter of 2025.