Folloring the 2007 Minnesota bridge tragedy, Rhode Island's Department of Transportation has again reviewed the conditions of bridges in the state. Please keep in mind; if a bridge is unsafe, we would not hesitate to close it immediately, as we did with the Peace Dale Stone Arch Bridge in South Kingstown in August 2007, just one day before the tragic collapse in Minnesota. Following repairs, the Stone Arch Bridge was reopened within two months, and the completed repairs allowed the removal of all weight restrictions.

The safety and preservation of the Rhode Island highway system is the top priority of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. RIDOT staff is involved in designing, constructing, inspecting and maintaining our bridge inventory, and is committed to ensuring these structures remain safe.

Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge, Route 138 between North Kingstown and Jamestown

Definitions

Which bridges are included in the system?
NBI structures are bridges or culverts that carry vehicular traffic longer than 20 feet down the center of the bridge.

What bridges are not considered part of the NBI system?
Non-NBI structures include bridges or culverts that carry vehicular traffic and are equal to or less than 20 feet down the center of the bridge.

What is a structurally deficient bridge?
Bridges are considered structurally deficient if there are elements of the bridge that need to be monitored and/or repaired. It means the bridge must be monitored, inspected and maintained, repaired or replaced at an appropriate time to maintain its structural integrity.

The fact that a bridge is structurally deficient does not imply that it is unsafe. If unsafe conditions are identified during a physical inspection, the structure must be closed.

What is a functionally obsolete bridge?
A functionally obsolete bridge is one that was built to standards that are not used today. These bridges are not automatically rated as structurally deficient, nor are they inherently unsafe. Functionally obsolete bridges are those that do not have adequate lane widths, shoulder widths, or vertical clearances to serve current traffic demand or to meet the current geometric standards, or those that may be occasionally flooded.

A functionally obsolete bridge is similar to an older house. A house built in 1950 might be perfectly acceptable to live in, but it does not meet all of today’s building codes. Yet, when it comes time to consider upgrading that house or making improvements, the owner must look at ways to bring the structure up to current standards.

Bridge conditions - documents and graphics

• Condition of all RIDOT-owned bridges
• Condition of all non RIDOT-owned bridges
• Rhode Island posted bridges, maximum axle weights
• Map of structurally deficient bridges across the nation
• AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) website of resource information regarding bridges

Ashton Viaduct, Route 116 over the Blackstone River


Hussey Bridge, Route 1A over Wickford Cove in North Kingstown