Newport Bridge: Road Deck to be Replaced

NEWPORT, RI — A big maintenance job is about to start on the Newport Pell Bridge. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) announced today work begins on May 15 and will reduce travel in both directions to single lanes through June 29. Overweight and oversize vehicles will be banned. Here is the fact sheet about the project, which calls for replacing the concrete roadway deck.

May 15 – June 29
Roadway deck work
Permanent single travel lanes in each direction

July – August
Beneath roadway deck work using barges
No permanent lane closures

September – December 22
Roadway deck work
Begins after Labor Day
Permanent single travel lanes in each direction

Prohibited Vehicles
Overwide Vehicles
Width exceeding 8 feet 6 inches
Prohibited May 15 through June 29
Prohibited September through December 22

Overweight Vehicles

Gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 80,000 pounds

Prohibited May 15 through December

Contract Award
Approved by Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority Board of Directors on
May 4, 2017 for $8,127,775 and awarded to Aetna Bridge Company headquartered in Warwick.

Project Specifications for east approach 2,000 feet
Partial depth hydro-demolition and replacement of the concrete roadway deck
from curb to curb
Full depth demolition and replacement of reinforced concrete joint headers and
installation of new joint seals at some piers
Installation of UHPC link slabs at some piers
Removal of existing steel bearings and replacement with new elastomeric
bearings at all piers
Repairs to the reinforced concrete safety walks/curbs
Steel bridge railing modifications/repairs
Concrete repairs to the prestressed concrete superstructure, reinforced concrete
pier caps and reinforced concrete piers
Other miscellaneous repairs/work items

This will be a multi-phase project which will take place over a six to eight-year period. The first phase will focus on the bridge’s east approach (Newport side) covering about 2,000 feet of the 11,247-foot bridge. The first phase will consist of partial depth hydro-demolition and replacement of the concrete roadway deck from curb to curb. It will also include removal of the existing steel bearings from the bridge’s original construction in 1969 and replace them with new and modern elastomeric bearings.