Old Sakonnet River Bridge to Be Demolished

PORSTMOUTH, RI -- A year or so ago, the state transportation department announced the plans to demolish the old Sakonnet River Bridge were on hold, pending a study of endangered turtles and sturgeon in the river.

But now, it's time to advertise for a contractor to take down the old bridge, which closed in 2012 when the new span opened.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced today contractors have about one month to bid on the job.

The proposals will be opened Nov. 2. The state expects to choose the contractor before the end of the year. Work starts in the spring of 2017 and should be complete by 2018.

It's estimated to cost around $23.6 million.

However, this job only deals with removing the deck and "superstructure," the department said. A second contract will cover the cost of demolishing the underwater sections. The method is still under discussion.

But this first job requires the "removal of 17 spans between the bridge's piers, a total of 2,178 feet," and includes "approximately 6.2 million pounds of steel and 2,700 cubic yards of concrete."

None of the debris is supposed to land in the water.

"The removal of the old Sakonnet River Bridge is long overdue, and the delay in demolishing it is one of the legacy problems we inherited from the previous administration," RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. said. "We're eager to begin this work and remove this visual eyesore from the Sakonnet River."

The Sakonnet River Bridge spans the river between Portsmouth and Tiverton.