Low Bid to Demolish Old Sakonnet Bridge Came in $11.1 Million Lower Than Engineer Estimated

TIVERTON, RI—The state received six bids for the work demolishing the old Sakonnet River Bridge between Portsmouth and Tiverton, the state Department of Transportation said today.

The lowest apparent bid of $9.4 million was submitted by S & R Corporation, the DOT said.

S & R Corporation, according to a search on its name, is based in Lowell, Mass. RIDOT did not provide information about the firm but said the state expects to award a contract for the project in late winter. The work is supposed to start next Spring.

"The Sakonnet River Bridge is located in one of the most beautiful parts of this state," Director Peter Alviti Jr. said. "We're eager to complete the contract award process so we can get the contractor started on this long overdue effort to remove the old bridge."

This contract is the first of two contracts to remove the entire bridge, and will focus on the bridge's deck and superstructure elements. Once work begins, the removal of the superstructure is expected to take approximately one year, according to the press release, and "RIDOT will make every effort to limit the impact of the work on the summer boating season." The project will be completed in Spring 2018.

This phase of the demolition will include the removal of 17 spans between the bridge's piers, a total of 2,178 feet. This includes approximately 6.2 million pounds of steel and 2,700 cubic yards of concrete. The contractor will provide RIDOT with a detailed work plan and schedule for the demolition.

The apparent low bid is $11.1 million below the engineer's estimate for this contract.