Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

It has easily been more than a decade since state officials first started talking about replacing the Sakonnet River Bridge. Now, with the span so deteriorated that large trucks can't use it, the project is finally moving forward.

At 3 p.m. Friday, state and federal officials will gather beneath the rusty, 53-year-old bridge to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for a new one.

The Department of Transportation has awarded a $163.7 million contract to Cardi Corp., of Warwick, to build a new steel bridge to carry Route 24 over the Sakonnet between Tiverton and Portsmouth. The old bridge will remain in use until the new span can be opened to traffic, which is expected in the spring of 2012. However, if Cardi finishes the bridge a year earlier, it will receive a $5 million bonus.

The old bridge will eventually be demolished.

The new bridge will be 28-feet wider, allowing for shoulders, breakdown lanes and a bike lane on the north side. The design are available to be viewed online.

The groundbreaking will be attended by Governor Carcieri, Congressman Patrick Kennedy and DOT Director Michael P. Lewis.

 Tags  Patrick Kennedy Portsmouth RI Tiverton RI

Comments

Elizabeth said:

Speaking of bridges: what is going on with the Henderson Bridge between East Prov and the East Side? It is blocked off with barriers to one lane on each side, and an entire exit is closed. But I haven't seen any work crews there in months or longer.

Link | April 24, 2009 2:34 PM
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