WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo announced significant progress to unfreeze federal funding for reconstruction of the westbound Washington Bridge as the state gained access to the first $30 million wave of funds from over $220.9 million in federal grants for the Interstate-195 Washington Bridge, which has been partially closed since December 2023 due to a catastrophic failure.
The four members of the state’s Congressional delegation, who led successful efforts to secure the federal funds in 2024, thanked both U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Governor Dan McKee for rolling up their sleeves and working together to ensure the stalled federal highway money was released to advance construction of a new Washington Bridge.
The federal funding was awarded by the Biden administration. But it was halted as part of a nationwide freeze after President Donald Trump took office on January 20 and issued executive orders halting the distribution of federal funds as well as other federal administrative actions across a wide range of federal programs, including highway and bridge projects. The orders have resulted in a number of lawsuits challenging them.
“Everyone recognizes the importance of this project to the community and the need for safe, modern, and resilient infrastructure. This federal money is vital to completing this massive project that is already underway. This is a positive outcome and I hope the state will accelerate progress toward a new bridge that meets capacity and safety needs now and in the future,” saidReed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I appreciate Secretary Duffy’s and Governor McKee’s contributions to this process and will continue working with them, RIDOT, FHWA, and other transportation officials to see the project through and ensure it is done right.”
“Working across the aisle with Chair Capito and in partnership with our delegation, I was glad to help unstick this funding for the Washington Bridge replacement as Wednesday’s committee hearing for the Secretary loomed,” said Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “This relieves needless uncertainty in an urgent situation with this bridge, and I will continue to do everything in my power to secure what Rhode Island needs from the federal government and to keep investing in our infrastructure.”
“With Rhode Islanders crossing the Washington Bridge every day, releasing federal funding for this project has been a top priority of mine and I understand how urgently Rhode Islanders need this project finished,” said Magaziner. “This first $30 million in federal funding being released is a critical step toward getting traffic moving again and reducing the burden that the bridge’s closure has had on local families and businesses. I’ll keep working with delegation and local leaders to make sure the rest of the federal funding gets delivered as promised.”
“As we work to ensure that federally-appropriated funds are rightfully deposited into our state accounts, I’m pleased RIDOT signed a grant agreement to deliver $30 million in funding for the Washington Bridge,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “These resources will bring us closer to the day when a new westbound span is built, alleviating the burden that residents, commuters, and businesses have had to experience for over a year. I look forward to continuing to work with my delegation colleagues to ensure there are no further delays in obtaining the funds that Rhode Island deserves.”
