Rhode Island has officially locked in $220.9 million in federal funding to rebuild the Washington Bridge, Governor Dan McKee announced today. The agreement, signed with the Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of Transportation, secures MEGA-INFRA grants for the project, allowing the state to begin drawing funds for pre-construction work.
“With this signing, the $220 million in federal grant funding for the new Washington Bridge has been assured,” McKee said. “This is another sign of continued progress in our work to build a modern, soundly constructed Washington Bridge that will outlast our lifetimes.”
The decision to replace the bridge came after a March 2024 assessment deemed repairs unfeasible. Since then, Rhode Island has made significant progress on the project:
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Two top engineering and construction firms are in a competitive bidding process for the bridge’s design and construction.
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The superstructure of the damaged bridge has been demolished, with substructure demolition underway.
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Traffic levels have returned to pre-closure volumes.
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Millions in grants were provided to local businesses affected by the closure.
Funding efforts included securing a $125.4 million MEGA grant and a $95.5 million INFRA grant, finalized with today’s agreement. The state also obtained additional funding through GARVEE bonds as a financial safeguard.
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