Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee announced that Walsh Construction Company—one of the nation’s top bridge builders—has been selected to build a new, state-of-the-art Washington Bridge for Rhode Islanders.
“Today, Rhode Island is moving forward toward a new, state-of-the-art Washington Bridge that will get residents where they need to go safely and smoothly,” says Governor Dan McKee. “With a world-class construction company hired, a project cost that is well within our budgeted funds, and a project timeline that is driven by industry expertise, we’re positioned to deliver a bridge that will truly outlast our lifetimes.”
Walsh’s bid set the construction contract hard cost at $339 million. With other soft costs for inspections and potential incentives and contingencies, the total rebuild cost could be up to $427 million. Last year, the State established a proactive funding strategy, which will cover the full cost of the project, meaning the new bridge will be built at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Walsh will begin initial work in July 2025, and completion date is November 2028. To keep the project moving forward on schedule, the State has established up to $10 million in incentives if lanes are opened ahead of schedule and penalties of $25,000 per day if the project timeline is exceeded.
For more, visit www.governor.ri.gov.