Gov. Dan McKee, left, goes over a November 2024 inspection report on the status of the eastbound Washington Bridge at a State House press conference on Jan. 13, 2025. Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti, Jr. is at center. At far right is Joseph Almond, McKee’s senior deputy chief of staff. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
Gov. Dan McKee on Monday released a November 2024 inspection report that found the highway on the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge is still safe after a year of carrying vehicles in both directions over the Seekonk River.
“Other people may disagree who have no knowledge of this issue,” McKee told reporters gathered at the State House. “Bottom line: The bridge is safe.”
The governor sought to dispel what he called “irresponsible” claims made by “people out of the country with satellites” and other out-of-state critics trying to portray that the eastbound Washington Bridge, like the western side, is at risk of collapse. The inspection report deemed the bridge in fair condition.
The eastbound span, constructed in 2008, began to take on western traffic just days after the state closed the western Washington Bridge in December 2023 after engineers discovered broken anchor rods in the span.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation last (RIDOT) March opened three lanes of travel on each side of the eastbound bridge as a way to ease congestion commuters faced.
RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr. told reporters Monday the state is now paying closer attention to the eastbound Washington Bridge due to its “strategic importance” in carrying traffic between Providence and East Providence. At the time of the westbound highway’s closure, the bridge carried about 96,000 vehicles a day.
Alviti said state engineers have increased the number of inspections for the Washington Bridge from every other year to once every six months.
“Which is above and beyond the level that is necessary,” Alviti said. “We are taking extraordinary precautions here.”
Bottom line: The bridge is safe.
– Gov. Dan McKee
The November inspection report by Lincoln-based engineering firm Green International Affiliates Inc. notes some cracks and corrosion on the bridge, along with missing bolts. Alviti said the maintenance team has begun to address some of the deficiencies by filling holes, cleaning expansion joints and sealing cracks.
The state also had Providence-based AI Engineers analyze the inspection report. The firm found that the load rating for the bridge remained adequate and the state did not need to impose any new weight restrictions on the eastbound bridge.
RIDOT paid $2.8 million last May to Swiss-based technology company Kistler to install monitoring systems meant to keep track of the bridge’s structural health.
Green International inspectors also noted areas of light to moderate bird debris and nests — something that blocked engineers from seeing some of the anchor rods when surveying the bridge in July 2023. That was the last inspection before the westbound bridge’s closure in December. Alviti said different corners of the bridge are getting cleaned out as part of regular maintenance.
The inspection report listed the eastbound bridge in “fair” condition overall, though the bridge deck and superstructure were “good.” Alviti said overall ratings are determined by the structural element with the lowest inspection score, which in this case was the substructure of the eastbound highway. All bridges are rated as either ”poor,” “fair,” or “good.”
Alviti said the report’s findings are “not uncommon” for a bridge built in 2008 on pilings first set in the 1930s — which he called a common practice when building most highways.
“We’re not taking that approach with the new bridge we’re building for westbound traffic,” Alviti said. “We’ll be putting in brand new footings.”
McKee’s administration last December announced two bidders were vying for the state’s contract to rebuild the westbound Washington Bridge. The pair of finalists will have a chance to provide recommendations to RIDOT, which will issue its finalized request proposals on Jan. 24.
The bidding process is where the state expects to have a finalized price tag and timeline for the project — something Alviti and McKee declined to speculate on during Monday’s press conference.
A final contract is scheduled to be awarded by June 6.
The eastbound bridge has an expected lifespan of 60 to 75 years, Alviti said. The additional traffic during the westbound highway’s rebuild should have no impact on that time, he said.
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