Two and a half years after a sudden closure snarled Providence traffic, crews finally began sinking foundations into the Seekonk River.
Construction crews in Providence began installing the first of 32 drilled shafts on June 10, marking the shift from behind-the-scenes work to a structure residents can watch rise. Each shaft reaches about 130 feet down to bedrock to anchor the new bridge's piers.
The original Washington Bridge carrying Interstate 195 was abruptly shut in December 2023 after a critical structural failure, disrupting roughly 90,000 trips a day across Southern New England. Walsh Construction, contracted in 2025, says the job is about a quarter complete and on track for a November 2028 opening. Counting demolition and emergency costs, the total is now estimated near $570 million.
Background: Washington Bridge (Providence) (Wikipedia)
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