Rhode Island Gets INFRA Grant for Bridge Project

Rhode Island has secured an additional $95.5 million INFRA grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, bringing total federal funding for the Washington Bridge replacement project to $221 million. This funding fulfills the state's original federal funding request, which accompanies a $125 million Mega grant obtained earlier. However, the total project cost is estimated at $368 million, with an additional $58 million needed for demolition. The Washington Bridge, a critical infrastructure piece carrying 90,000 vehicles daily, was closed in December 2023 due to structural concerns. The state plans to utilize this funding to accelerate progress on the bridge replacement, with actual construction expected to start in December 2025. The project has been supported by Rhode Island's congressional delegation and enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.