New Sakonnet River Bridge Won't Open By May Deadline
Sections of the new Sakonnet River Bridge could not open until as late as November 2012.
The new Sakonnet River Bridge will not open by its ambitious May deadline and southbound lanes could even be closed until November due to problems with a "cofferdam," reports The Newport Daily News.
The Newport Daily News reports a July opening for the northbound lanes. The southbound lanes could open to traffic much later in the fall.
In November, workers at the new Sakonnet River Bridge celebrated a milestone in the $163.7 million project after placing the final steel girder. At the time, the project was 140 days behind schedule.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) broke ground on the bridge replacement project in April 2009. The $163.7 million contract with Cardi Corp. for the construction of the new bridge is the largest single contract in DOT's history.
East side
12:37 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Coffer issue or cofferdam issue? So the south bound lane could be the location of the tolls until the coffer is set up?
Portsmouth Citizen
12:43 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Coffers? Let's hope not. I think it's "cofferdam" like this: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cofferdam
Jim L
12:48 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
you are right citizen, wonder what went wrong?
Ice Fischer
1:08 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
you would think with this extremely mild winter they would be tearing through the construction even if there was a bit of delay
Cathy Calabrese
1:34 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I do not want to see any tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge. I would rather see tolls on Interstate 95.
tsgcPORT
1:52 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
One of my first thoughts regarding the possibility of tolls on the Mt Hope and Sakonnet is this- would more and more people in the northern section of Portsmouth be more apt to stay on island for errands, shopping etc vs going to Bristol or Fall River (like me) resulting in increased traffic to East and West Main Roads which are already too heavily used. I think I would avoid Bristol and Fall River if at all possible
Ray Davis
8:29 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
Ok, so use the money that the construction company is obligated to pay on a daily basis for being behind schedule instead of putting another toll on yet another bridge.
Putting tolls on ALL the bridges onto Aquidneck Isalnd( the Rhode Island) is absolutely stupid and punative to businesses and residents.
Portsmouth for 43 years and counting
10:42 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
I agree with Ray Davis! Additionally, the construction company was due to get a BIG bonus if they completed ahead of schedule (which is no longer going to happen). Why not use the bonus money + what construction company is obligated to pay on a daily basis for being behind schedule and use THAT instead of placing a toll on this bridge and burdening the islanders with yet another RI money grubbing fee.
John
8:08 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Anyone noticed..heading northbound..you can look over at the new bridge deck AND...the other side (south side) of the new bridge is noticibly higher than you are.....and banked toward you. The roadway is not flat.. when it should be, ...for a straight section of road. Just an observer.
Boggins McWhine
12:24 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
What a shock! Over run and over budget. Never happens in Rhode Island. We need unions on the job to cure this!
Mark D
6:32 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
Where is the over budget I haven't seen anything on it being over budget? I saw that the cofferdams issue was to be paid for by Cardi's and they will have to pay a penalty for every day past the deadline.
John
8:16 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
Back in the beginning there were a couple of companys that were drilling "cores" in the river bottom and approaches to find "Solid" ground for the footings for the new bridge. I don't remember the particulars but I remember there were problems finding solid ground. Then the bridge construction started.
There is a swift current running through there between the railroad bridge approaches. Cofferdams (steel sheet pile) are used to isolate the bridge footings from the river...so they can pour concrete in a dry environment. After the footings are poured and cured..the cofferdams are removed.
BIG Question: Is it possable that the piles (Cofferdams) having having been removed, the river current is now eating out the footings....bridge sinking on the north side (south bound) side of the bridge.
Ever stood on a beach when the wave comes in and you feel the sand dissapearing from under your feet as you stand there... with the wave going out. Just wondering.