PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island delegation has announced a second grant for the rebuild of the Washington Bridge. The grant, worth $95.6 million, comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation by the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program, known as an “INFRA” grant. Rhode Island will now receive a total of $221 million for the rebuild of the Washington Bridge. The Washington Bridge has a daily traffic volume of 90,000 vehicles, and was shut down back in December of 2023 after RIDOT discovered broken anchor rods that put the bridge at risk of failure. The state has requested $220.9 million in federal funds to help replace the Washington Bridge and was initially awarded $125.39 million out of the total pool of about $1 billion of federal funds available for Mega grants of this size and scope nationwide, according to a release. In May of 2024, RIDOT estimated the price tag for replacing the bridge would include $58.2 million for demolition as well as $368.3 million for the design-build process. Demolition of the bridge has resumed, and the date for RIDOT to finalize demolition has been pushed to February of 2025. “Securing this federal investment has been a top priority.  Now the state must utilize this $220.98 million in federal funding to accelerate progress toward a new bridge that meets capacity and safety needs now and in the future,” said Senator Jack Reed in a statement, a leading member of the Appropriations Committee. “Passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law paved the way for this funding.  I commend the Biden-Harris administration for its leadership, support, and commitment to a modern and resilient infrastructure system.  The state must put this money to work and keep the public updated with a clear timetable for progress,” he said. “Securing a second major federal grant marks another important milestone in our work to build a brand new Washington Bridge,” said Governor Dan McKee.  “We know that ensuring this complex project is done right will take time, but it’s encouraging to see demolition resuming this week, the rebuild bidding process moving forward, and additional federal dollars coming in. We thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their commitment to Rhode Island and our top-notch congressional delegation for helping us secure this crucial funding,” he said. Categories: News