Washington Bridge Demolition Completed Ahead of Schedule

Published on Friday, December 05, 2025

With the substructure now demolished, the full demolition project is officially complete

PROVIDENCE, RI — Governor Dan McKee today announced the Washington Bridge project reached a major milestone ahead of schedule: the full demolition of the old bridge is complete. 

“We continue to make progress on the Washington Bridge project, and reaching this major demolition milestone is an important step forward,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I know travelers are still feeling the frustration of traffic, and I want to assure them that we are fully committed to rebuilding this bridge as quickly as possible, with one of the nation’s top bridge builders leading the work. We thank Rhode Islanders for their patience as we construct a new, safe bridge that will improve traffic flow and shorten commute times.” 

The full demolition project was completed in two major phases: first, the deck and superstructure, and then the substructure. The deck and the superstructure were removed between July 2024 and February 2025, finishing on schedule. Substructure demolition began in March 2025, with work on the underwater portions starting in July 2025 in accordance with environmental permits. The final phase wrapped up this week, ahead of schedule. 

Throughout the course of the demolition, numerous precautions were taken, including strategically stationing barges to catch the debris and employing turbidity curtains to contain smaller debris. Sensors were deployed to monitor noise, dust, and vibration levels to ensure these remained within accepted limits. 

Work on the new bridge continues to progress. Walsh Construction—one of the nation’s leading bridge builders—has been mobilizing equipment and crews, securing permits, coordinating utility work, and advancing the bridge design. This includes detailed surveying and 3-D scanning to guide and refine the new bridge’s final design.