Could Providence’s Washington Bridge Become a Tunnel Instead?

When Rhode Island officials closed the westbound side of the heavily traveled Washington Bridge on December 11, 2023, it was out of fear the bridge, built in 1968, could collapse. That would not be a good thing.

Democrat Governor Dan McKee announced the bridge would have to come down.

After months of inconvenience for commuters and travelers, a workable solution emerged to carry traffic across the Seekonk River via Interstate 195 on the eastbound bridge. So far, things have been mostly manageable.

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The McKee Administration announced plans for a new $300 million replacement bridge to replace the old span. The state sought requests for proposals from developers. Governor McKee, who wants to win re-election, assumed new bridge construction would be complete in time for the 2026 nominating convention.

Ah, not so fast.

No construction companies met a recent deadline for submitting a bid for the bridge project.

WRPI-TV Channel 12 reported that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti said, "We pushed the envelope apparently beyond what the construction industry is willing to bear – we accept that."

The state will now seek requests for information from potential developers to learn what it will take to attract bidders to the project.

WJAR-TV Channel 10 said the Narragansett Bay Commission Chairman Vincent Mesolella thinks he has a better idea – a tunnel rather than a bridge.

"In my mind, this idea deserves some consideration," Mesolella told the station.

According to Mesolella, a tunnel, some 4,100 feet long and more than 100 feet below sea level under the Seekonk River, could do the trick.

Alviti is skeptical and Mesolella admits his proposal hasn't gained much traction yet.