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« Coventry man, 18, charged in stabbing of 15-year-old | Today | Art dealer who escaped from prison is going back » April 16, 2008Henderson Bridge needs $50 million in repairsPROVIDENCE -- Another state bridge needs millions of dollars in repairs. And the state Department of Transportation today said it doesn't have the money. The Henderson Bridge, which crosses the Seekonk River from Providence's East Side to East Providence, is the latest in a series of bridges that need major repairs because of significant deterioration. Kazem Farhoumand, the agency's acting chief engineer, said the Henderson Bridge needs a $50 million rehabilitation, but that the DOT can only afford $3.3 million in repairs to the bridge's rusting steel beams. The bridge's center lanes have already been closed for more than a decade because of cracks in its concrete supports. Together, the flaws contributed to the bridge's substructure's "serious" rating under the Federal Highway Administration's classification system. Farhoumand said that, with the repairs planned now, the Henderson Bridge "should be good for at least another for 5 or 10 years. Built in 1969, the Henderson Bridge -- also known as the Red Bridge -- connects with Waterman and Angel streets in Providence and with Massasoit Avenue and Broadway in East Providence. The DOT, meanwhile, has also awarded another bridge repair contract for this construction season, for $2.1 million to add to the temporary shoring holding up nine bridges on Route 195 in the city. They won't be needed after the DOT finishes shifting traffic from that highway to a new section it is building. -- Journal staff writer Bruce Landis Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsGreg | April 16, 2008 3:55 PM link Sooo Happy we spent our state money on a boondogle to relocate 195. Now that we gave away the store to our favorite contractors for an unecessary project, a real job comes along we can't afford. David Richards | April 16, 2008 4:53 PM link wow. i remember it opening, and what was cost then? a million. would it be cheaper to just replace? brian | April 16, 2008 5:38 PM link Wow what a suprprise. For the last twenty years big new projects were the only projects. Repair work was booring. I listened to the exit interview that the departing director of the dot gavetwo years ago, and all he did was brag about the big money projects he presided over. Don't blame the govenor, as he inherited the jerk when he was first elected. Now he should forfit his pention for his incompetance. Stu | April 16, 2008 8:14 PM link With all the issues in the state, from lacking money to fix bridges, to laying off state employees. I wonder if all the NIMBY's are thinking, perhaps we should have let the Indians build the casino, and get some tax revenue! John | April 16, 2008 8:30 PM link I find it ironic that someone would actually suggest that Massachusetts is the gold standard to which RI should emulate...Obviously a short memory needs to be refreshed; how's the Big Dig working out? Dr Marc | April 16, 2008 8:53 PM link Take the bridge down or let's just fish from it (via pesce!!!). Either thake the long way home or put a ferry in there!! Paul | April 16, 2008 8:54 PM link Perhaps we should look into transferring some of the $200,000,000+ from the pie-in-the-sky proposed train station / people-mover project in Warwick (that still lacks any train service commitment)to these bridge repairs, which face real traffic on a daily basis... It may not be that there isn't money out there. It may be that the funds are misappropriated. RJ | April 16, 2008 10:26 PM link It's great to know that our country just spent $3 trillion for an unneccesary war and we can't even fix our roads, bridges, schools, etc. When will we learn that our money is much better spent not on guns and bombs, but on building a better country for our citizens right here at home? Mark | April 17, 2008 9:37 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
How exactly are contracts 'awarded' in this state. I know how MA does it through a bidding process but does Rhodey just give 'em out to whoever gives the biggest kickback? And why does everything take 20 times longer to finish than it should here?