DOT: No ‘significant’ long-term lane closures during bridge takedown

Brief disruptions for marine traffic possible

Posted 3/2/17

PORTSMOUTH/TIVERTON — The R.I. Department of Tranportation (RIDOT) says “no significant long-term travel lane closures are expected on the new bridge or Route 24” while the old …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


DOT: No ‘significant’ long-term lane closures during bridge takedown

Brief disruptions for marine traffic possible

Posted

PORTSMOUTH/TIVERTON — The R.I. Department of Tranportation (RIDOT) says “no significant long-term travel lane closures are expected on the new bridge or Route 24” while the old Sakonnet River Bridge is being demolished.

Pre-demolition work on the old span began Wednesday morning by S&R Corporation, the contractor selected by RIDOT to do the first phase of the job. S&R, whose bid of $9.4 million was the lowest among six applicants, is expected to spend about one year taking down the span’s superstructure. 

The only work taking place this week, however, is the installation of “exclusionary bird setting” on the old structure to discourage nesting by migratory birds. 

Working from the bridge deck as well as utilizing barges and cranes, RIDOT said the old bridge will be dismantled using mechanical methods. The work may cause noise disruptions, and brief local traffic impacts are anticipated on both sides of the bridge. The main construction access for the old bridge will be from the shoulder of Route 24 southbound.  

“Brief disruptions for marine traffic under the bridge are possible, but the main channel under the bridge will remain open at all times during the boating season through early October,” RIDOT stated in a press release. “The boat ramp located on Riverside Drive in Tiverton, built as part of the new bridge project, also will remain open but brief disruptions may be possible.”

RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. apologized for any disruptions the demolition activity may cause. “Rest assured, we'll work closely with our contractor to minimize the impact of this work and complete it as quickly as possible,” he stated.

The old Sakonnet River Bridge was originally opened in 1956. As part of the project to build the new bridge, only a limited portion of the old bridge was removed with the majority of demolition planned for a separate contract. 

However, necessary marine studies on the potential impact of threatened and endangered species had not been completed and environmental permits had not been secured, according to RIDOT. “To avoid further delay, RIDOT chose to split the project into two contracts in order to expedite the removal of the bridge superstructure,” RIDOT stated.

The project for the first phase of demolition costs approximately $15 million. The second phase will address in-water and land-based substructure elements. 

The exact means of demolition for substructure are still being examined. RIDOT is considering using controlled explosive demolition, as it did for a portion of the former railroad trestle adjacent to the old bridge, and for the old Jamestown Bridge. 

 

RIDOT does not yet have a cost estimate for the second phase, but says it intends to begin work on the second contract as soon as possible after the completion of the first contract.

Sakonnet River Bridge, Sakonnet Bridge, RIDOT

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.