PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Demolition for the Washington Bridge's westbound portion was recently halted unexpectedly, but Gov. Dan McKee remains optimistic it will resume soon. Work was paused on Tuesday by the R.I. Department of Transportation as the state preserves evidence for an ongoing legal battle. READ MORE: RI stops Washington Bridge demolition citing ongoing legal battle "I'm not anticipating that," McKee told 12 News when asked if legal proceedings need to start before resuming the demolition. "We're following the legal advice, and I think that what I'm hearing and what I heard from the attorney general is that the demolition is going to start soon." The state also recently got $125 million in federal funding that will go toward replacing the bridge. ALSO READ: $125M coming to RI for Washington Bridge McKee said the grant will help "control the cost and making sure that we're not raising taxes" to pay for this project. Currently, state officials anticipate the full project, including demolition and reconstruction, to be roughly $473 million, with expectations it will increase. Despite the pause, the governor expects full demolition of the bridge to be complete sometime in the first quarter of 2025. NEXT: Lifespan lays off 20% of executives as CEO seeks to streamline operations Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW