RIDOT secures final permit for Washington Bridge replacement

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Construction activity on the new westbound Washington Bridge is expected to intensify later this spring after the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) secured the final permit required for the replacement project.

RIDOT said the U.S. Coast Guard issued the project’s final major approval on April 29, allowing the state to proceed with additional phases of construction in the coming months.

According to the agency, upcoming work will include site preparation, drilling operations, utility coordination, steel fabrication, and other preliminary bridge construction activities.

RIDOT said the majority of the work will remain within the footprint of the existing Washington Bridge, with much of the activity taking place over the water.

State officials also indicated that motorists are not expected to experience significant traffic disruptions during the initial stages of construction. More noticeable impacts are anticipated later in the project as traffic patterns are shifted onto the new bridge structure.

The replacement bridge is projected to take approximately 28 months to complete, with all travel lanes expected to reopen in fall 2028.