(The Center Square) — Rhode Island has filed a lawsuit against several contractors over the failure of the Interstate 195 Washington bridge, which will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars to replace.
The lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court, names more than a dozen construction and engineering companies and accuses them of negligence and breach of contract for allegedly failing to "timely and adequately identify worsening structural issues" that ultimately led to the "sudden and unexpected" bridge closure.
In the 44-page complaint, state prosecutors allege there were "multiple failures over multiple years" to bring problems with the bridge to the state Department of Transportation’s attention and to "recommend adequate remedial measures."
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said the lawsuit "seeks to hold accountable those responsible and recover the maximum amount possible for the state" for the "near-miss catastrophic closure" of the bridge.
“The emergency closure of the Washington Bridge and subsequent mitigation efforts have strained our state," the Democrat said in a statement. "In the nearly nine months since the abrupt closure, our economy has borne an immense cost, and our state has and will continue to have to expend significant resources as a result."
"Litigation is a long road and today marks the first step on that road," Neronha added. "We are committed to working with our partners to secure as much relief for the state as we can."
Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat who had vowed a "day of reckoning" was coming for those responsible for the bridge failure, welcomed the lawsuit and said he "looks forward to an outcome that will benefit Rhode Island taxpayers.”
An independent review of the Washington Street Bridge uncovered additional structural deficiencies that required it to be replaced. The westbound portion of the bridge, originally built in 1969, was rated as "poor," according to the Federal Highway Administration’s latest National Bridge Inventory.
In December, the state shut down the bridge after civil engineers discovered that "anchor pins" holding structural beams in place were failing, which could have caused the bridge to collapse.
The state has estimated the price tag for the bridge replacement to be $400 million, which includes demolishing the structurally deficient structure that serves as a gateway to Rhode Island's largest city, Providence, carrying nearly 100,000 vehicles a day over the Seekonk River.
McKee said Rhode Island will apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to pay for 60% of the expense. He has also submitted a budget amendment to borrow up to $334.6 million to pay more of the bridge replacement cost if the state doesn't get the federal grant.
But when Rhode Island officials put the project out to bid earlier this summer, no contractors responded. The state is currently soliciting feedback from construction companies on what needs to happen to make the project viable.
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