Alviti to Buttigieg: ‘We’ll build this one to last 100 years’

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The U.S. Transportation Secretary arrived in Rhode Island Tuesday morning and tour infrastructure projects around the state.

The main part of Pete Buttigieg’s tour of course will be the Washington Bridge, which was just announced last week will have to be rebuilt, after the westbound side of the bridge had been shut down for three months.

Initial estimates for the cost of the project are between $250 and $300 million, hoping to complete the demolition and reconstruction of the new bridge by September 2026.

Buttigieg’s arrival is a significant one as the governor has said he hopes to have federal help to pay for the bridge.

The transportation secretary will also head to the Woonasquatucket River for a groundbreaking on a greenway project.

We’ll be following along as Pete Buttigieg tours the 195 Washington Bridge and bring you his thoughts on the structure.