Politics & Government
UPDATE: DOT Re-opens Manville Hill Road Bridge
Span will allow traffic with weight restrictions for about a year before a permanent fix.
UPDATE - April 25: The DOT announced today that Manville Hill Road Bridge has reopened to traffic. The structure still carries the 10-ton weight limit put into place prior to its closure.
April 24: The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) plans to open the Manville Hill Road Bridge this week, according to Rep. Mia A. Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln).
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Exact details of the opening are still being worked out, but the representative said area businesses can at least find comfort in knowing that traffic will be somewhat restored shortly.
“They’re putting the finishing touches on the temporary fix, but we should see that bridge open again by the end of the week,” Representative Ackerman said. “It’s going to remain open with weight restrictions for at least another year before RIDOT goes out to bid for a new bridge. Once that begins, it will likely take several months before construction actually starts. I’m pleased to be able to deliver this great news to the community.”
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The state-owned Manville Hill Road Bridge crosses the Blackstone River, the Blackstone River Bikeway and the Providence & Worcester Railroad.
RIDOT closed the bridge in early December after engineers noticed significant steel and bridge beam deterioration during its inspection. Initially, RIDOT was slated to address additional repair work through an upcoming construction contract scheduled to begin in Summer 2013. But closer inspection of the bridge revealed it needed more immediate repairs.
“From that point forward, I tried to keep open communication with RIDOT so officials would not push this to the wayside,” Representative Ackerman said. “I continued to remind them that this bridge issue has inconvenienced many of the residents in my district and had the power to negatively impact local businesses. I wish it didn’t have to happen at all, but I am relieved that the district can go back to business as usual this week.”
The department estimates the 58-year-old bridge carries about 4,300 vehicles per day.
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