"Urgent Replacement: The Complex Case of New England's Washington Bridge"

Rhode Island's Governor announced that the Washington Bridge, a critical gateway to Providence, will need to be demolished and replaced due to additional structural deficiencies. The new bridge is expected to be completed between March and September of 2026, with an estimated cost of $250-300 million. The sudden closure in December caused significant traffic disruptions, and state officials are investigating the circumstances leading to the bridge's deterioration. The bridge carries nearly 100,000 vehicles daily and was rated as "poor" in the Federal Highway Administration's National Bridge Inventory.