AASHTO Journal, 6 September 2013
The three-year, $81 million project actually rehabilitated or replaced nine bridges in the City of Pawtucket. The Pawtucket River Bridge was originally built in 1958 and has since carried I-95 over Taft Street and the Seekonk River, carrying about 126,000 vehicles per day. After issuing some safety concerns regarding the bridge, RIDOT broke ground on the new span in 2010, hoping to revitalize the gateway to Pawtucket. The bridge was built in phrases in order to minimize the impact to highway traffic and keep all travel lanes throughout the duration of the project.
“In just three years, we’ve turned this situation around and transformed the bridge into a crown jewel for the city that will provide an opportunity to attract local economic development and improve quality of life for local residents,” RIDOT Director Mike Lewis said. “The health of our transportation infrastructure is critical to the health of our economy and our quality of life. We’re pleased to celebrate this achievement with all of our partners who helped make this bridge a reality.”
RIDOT worked closely with a committee established by the City of Pawtucket to design the look of the new bridge. Art Deco sculptures and color-changing LED accent lights were added to give the bridge a signature style. There are 16 million color possibilities, and the system has the ability to change the look of the bridge to coordinate with major holidays and local events. The project was completed more than $20 million under the state’s initial budget projections.
The ceremony was also an opportunity to acknowledge the official re-naming of the bridge. Through the efforts of the Pawtucket City Council, the Rhode Island General Assembly, and Governor Lincoln Chafee, the bridge will now be known as the Pawtucket River Bridge in recognition of its importance and tie to the local community.
Additional information on the bridge project is available here.