Washington Bridge Closure - The Boston Globe

Construction on the foundation of the Washington Bridge began in the Seekonk River in June.

R.I. Governor McKee touts Washington Bridge progress before early voting starts

Early voting starts Thursday in the primary election for governor and other offices. Dan McKee has faced major headwinds over his handling of the bridge crisis.

Walsh Construction workers guided a 7-foot-wide foundation shaft, which will be lowered by crane to connect with another shaft already driven into the water.

Construction begins on replacement for the Washington Bridge in Providence

Demolition of the old bridge that carried Interstate 195 westbound - and construction of the new one - will cost about $570 million.

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. responds to a question from former US attorney Zachary Cunha (not pictured) during an oversight hearing on the Washington Bridge at the State House in Providence, Nov. 13, 2025.

R.I. DOT Director Alviti resigning amid criticism over Washington Bridge closure

Governor McKee, who is seeking reelection in 2026, said Alviti will resign effective Feb. 27, and his administration will conduct a nationwide search for a successor.

DOT Director Peter Alviti responds to a question from former US Attorney Zachary Cunha (not pictured) during an oversight hearing on the Washington Bridge at the State House in Providence, R.I., on Thursday.

Grilled under oath, R.I. DOT director blames outside inspectors for failure of Washington Bridge

Multiple consultants hired to inspect the bridge were supposed to “do their damn job and didn’t,” Peter Alviti said at a tense hearing.

A sign in Providence declares that the Washington Bridge replacement project is "on budget" and "on time."

The Washington Bridge reconstruction is being touted as ‘on time’ and ‘on budget’ — even though it hasn’t started yet

Critics note that Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee originally said the I-195 bridge would reopen in 2026. The new date is 2028. And costs continue to climb.

A crew works to demolish the remnants of the Washington Bridge’s westbound span in March 2025.

McKee denies ‘hiding’ audit of R.I.’s Washington Bridge. Legislative leaders consider putting officials under oath.

Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Lawson said they were “deeply troubled by the findings” in the audit.

A rendering of the new Washington Bridge on I-195 West, which is slated to be built by Walsh Construction Company. The opening date is set for November 2028.

R.I.’s new Washington Bridge to be completed by 2028, five years after it closed. The total project could cost $570m.

The new bridge “will make traffic flow easier in both directions,” Governor McKee said Friday. “It will even address some of the issues that bogged down rush-hour traffic long before we closed the westbound bridge.”

An excavator used in the ongoing work to demolish the westbound half of the Washington Bridge connecting Providence and East Providence leaked hydraulic fluid into the Seekonk River on Thursday afternoon, officials said.

Rhode Island Business

Excavator working on demolition of Washington Bridge leaks hydraulic fluid into Seekonk River

The contractor hired a cleanup company to address the spill at their own cost, according to RIDOT