In-water Construction Begins on New Washington Bridge
Published on Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Major milestone marks transition from early-stage work to visible construction
PROVIDENCE, RI — Governor Dan McKee today joined Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Interim Director Robert Rocchio, Walsh Construction Vice President Chuck Parish, and East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva to mark the start of in-water construction on the new Washington Bridge.
Construction crews have begun installing the first of 32 drilled shafts that will form the foundation of the new bridge. Each shaft will extend approximately 130 feet to bedrock, creating the support system for the bridge's piers and abutments.
“This is a significant milestone for this project and for Rhode Islanders,” said Governor Dan McKee. “After completing demolition, permitting, site preparation, and mobilization, in-water construction is now underway. My top priority has been keeping people safe while building a new bridge that will last for generations, and today represents meaningful progress toward that goal.”
The start of in-water construction follows preparation, including design, permitting, site surveys, material fabrication, and equipment mobilization. Earlier this year, crews also established construction platforms in the river to support foundation work.
“Today's milestone demonstrates that this project continues to move forward,” said RIDOT Interim Director Robert Rocchio. “Much of the work over the last several months has happened behind the scenes. Now Rhode Islanders will begin to see the bridge take shape as construction advances.”
Walsh Construction, one of the nation's top bridge builders, is leading the design and construction of the new westbound Washington Bridge. The replacement bridge will increase capacity from four travel lanes to five and include a new Gano Street on-ramp and Waterfront Drive off-ramp to improve traffic flow. The new Washington Bridge will be designed for easier inspection and maintenance, with a 100-year design life. It is nearly identical to the new I-270 Chain of Rocks Bridge Walsh is constructing over the Mississippi River, just north of St. Louis.
Contractors are using vibratory hammers that create less noise than traditional pile driving. Vibration and noise monitoring will be in place.
“Right now, across the country, communities are replacing and modernizing aging infrastructure that was built generations ago to meet the evolving traffic and commerce needs of future generations,” said Chuck Parish, Vice President, New England Transportation and Water, Walsh Construction. “Today marks a meaningful step forward for Rhode Island and for everyone who relies on this corridor. Walsh is proud to be part of restoring this important connection.”
Once foundation work is complete, crews will begin constructing the bridge piers and substructure that will support the bridge deck. Fabrication of structural steel for the bridge superstructure is already underway at facilities in Wisconsin, with deliveries to Rhode Island expected to begin later this year.
“While a lot of work has already gone into rebuilding the Washington Bridge from engineering, demolition, and securing the necessary permits, much of that progress has occurred out of public view,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “This next phase of construction will bring our community excitement as they begin to see structures rise, giving a visual representation that this project is moving forward, bringing us another step closer toward new and improved commutes.”
“Our skilled members are excited to be working on this necessary project that will benefit the traveling public, the flow of goods and services, and create hundreds of family-supporting construction jobs,” said Donato A. Bianco, Jr., Vice President and New England Regional Manager for the Laborers' International Union of North America. “Over the past several years, the State of Rhode Island has invested in bridge and road repairs, as we no longer kick the can down the road. Infrastructure investment into projects like this and others around our state is critical to economic growth.”
To help Rhode Islanders track the project's progress, RIDOT has launched a dedicated Washington Bridge rebuild website featuring construction updates, project milestones, videos, animations, and other resources. The site will serve as the primary source of information throughout the rebuild at www.washingtonbridgerebuild.com.
NOTE TO MEDIA: You can see an animation of the bridge’s building process here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAp_3AROaCM