Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) recently completed the $5.5 million Cottrell Bridge project in Westerly, connecting Route 78 and Route 1.
Work included replacing the structurally deficient bridge with corrosion resistant fiber reinforced polymer tub girders instead of steel beams. This method allowed RIDOT to complete work in three months, cutting the timeframe drivers needed to detour.
The replacement coordinated with the state Department of Environmental Management’s requirement that certain construction activities only be scheduled during a low-flow period for the McGowan Brook to minimize any environmental impact.
The bridge carries approximately 4,300 vehicles daily, and an 8-ton weight limit has been removed.
Some final detail work still may need to be completed.
RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Improvement Act funded the project.
RIDOT Chief Operating Officer Loren Doyle, Rhode Island Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Carlos C. Machado, Westerly Town Manager Shawn Lacey, and state and local leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“FHWA’s commitment to innovation is central to much of what the agency will continue to do over the next several years,” Machado said. “We have already seen innovation improve our roads and bridges to increase safety and accessibility for our residents and travelers. But new technologies – such as accelerate bridge construction – hold the promise to dramatically reduce highway closures, fatalities and expand access to transportation for traditionally underserved communities.”