Washington Bridge demolition complete ahead of schedule

The demolition of the Washington Bridge in Providence, Rhode Island, has been completed ahead of schedule.

According to the Governor’s office, the demolition project too place in two phases. The deck and 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 by Dec. 5, ahead of schedule.

The bridge has been closed for two years after critical infrastructure failures were discovered. Aetna Bridge Co. spearheaded the demolition project.

“We continue to make progress on the Washington Bridge project, and reaching this major demolition milestone is an important step forward,” Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee says. “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.”

Numerous precautions were taken throughout the demolition process, which according to the Governor’s office included 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.

McKee says work on the new bridge continues to progress, led by Walsh Construction, one of the nation’s leading bridge builders. The firm has been mobilizing equipment and crews, securing permits and coordinating utility work. Walsh also has conducted detailed surveying and 3D scanning to guide and refine the new bridge’s final design.