Jacobs has been awarded a contract to plan the demolition of the westbound span of the Washington Bridge. The contract was awarded by Aetna Bridge Company (Aetna) and the client is the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT).
The contract requires Jacobs to develop a phased demolition plan for the bridge. The firm will ensure the work is scheduled so as to reduce traffic disturbance for drivers. Demolition work has to be complete by the end of 2025. By carrying out the demolition in stages, it will also help to minimise the risk of environmental harm to the Seekonk River.
Serious structural defects were discovered in sections of the westbound side of the bridge dating back to the 1960s, and it was subsequently closed to traffic by RIDOT at the end of 2023. The I-95 route links Providence and East Providence and previously had traffic volumes of up to 100,000 vehicles/day.
