Providence highway overhaul behind schedule, over budget
By Melissa Randall
mrandall@abc6.com
For nearly two years, drivers traveling through the capital city have been met with construction headaches by the Providence Place Mall.
ABC6 News has learned that the Viaduct overhaul is behind schedule and over budget.
Rush hour on 95 can be a headache, and most drivers were hoping the project would be done by later this year, as promised. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case, as there’s still a lot of work to be done.
Commuting over the Providence Viaduct can be stressful for
“It’s supposed to make traffic easier but it’s actually harder. They’ve got a speed limit that says 25 but people go through there 40 miles an hour,” says Robert Tannenbaum, a
Work to repair the deteriorating bridge that carries 95 through the heart of
The Department of Transportation (DOT) says the delay costs overrun relates to unforeseen cite conditions.
The project began in the summer of 2013. Two years later, Susan Rozzero is growing impatient.
“Where is our tax money going? This is what I’d like to know,” said Rozzero.
But it’s not just the Viaduct that’s in rough shape—highways and bridges across the state are falling apart. Governor Gina Raimondo has put forth an ambitious transportation infrastructure repair plan known as “Rhode Works.”
The Democrats’ proposal comes with tolling for large commercial vehicles to pay for a $700 million revenue bond to repair bridges. Republicans argue that’s not the answer.
Representative Patricia Morgan is announcing an alternative to tolling. She wants to amend the budget, cutting out $60 million to pay for those repairs.
House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello says the alternative plan isn’t a realistic solution.
The budget amendment goes before the lawmakers Tuesday.
© WLNE-TV 2015
