The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) has released its projected timeline for the completion of a suicide barrier feasibility study. This preliminary timeline covers all four bridges under RITBA’s authority and assumes that the RIBTA Board will vote to give Atkins, the selected design and engineering consulting firm, the go-ahead to begin their work at their October meeting:

According to the projected timeline, the study will begin in October and continue for a year and a half, resulting in a final report by Feb. 28, 2024.

“The scope of work for this project is far reaching, and the structural integrity of the bridges is our paramount concern,” said Lori Caron Silveira, executive director of RITBA. “This work will determine whether it is feasible to add barriers on our four major bridges. The consultants need to start by researching dozens of documents and reports that relate to the designs of the bridges and their current conditions. They are then going to produce a series of studies on each bridge that look at structure capacity, wind load, connection details, environmental effects, and historic impacts of various solutions. An analysis will be developed for each structure to check additional loading conditions applied from installation of a physical barrier. I know that the timeframe is disappointing for those who want an immediate answer, but we are not going to cut corners or skip steps.”

Here is the timeline proposed by the authority:

• Notice to Proceed: Oct. 19, 2022
• Data Collection: Jan. 25, 2023
• Alternative Analysis: May 24, 2023
• Wind Study: Aug. 23, 2023
• Cost Estimate: Oct. 25, 2023
• Compile Feasibility Repor: Dec. 20, 2023
• Quality Assurance Quality Control: Jan. 10, 2024
• Draft Feasibility Report: Jan. 10, 2024
• RITBA Comments: Jan. 31, 2024
• Response to Review Comments: Feb. 28, 2024
• Final Feasibility Report: Feb. 28, 2024