The document summarizes bridge data from the 2014 National Bridge Inventory for Rhode Island. It finds that 23% of the state's 766 bridges are structurally deficient, and 33% are functionally obsolete. Over the past five years, 52% of highway and bridge contract awards in the state went to bridge construction, compared to a national average of 29%. The state estimates it would cost $2.8 billion to repair 719 bridges. The document also lists the top 10 most traveled structurally deficient bridges in the state.

1. © 2015 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Highlights from FHWA’s 2014 National Bridge Inventory Data:
 Of the 766 bridges in the state, 174 bridges, or 23% are classified as structurally deficient. This
means one or more of the key bridge elements, such as the deck, superstructure or
substructure, is considered to be in “poor” or worse condition.1
 There are 255 bridges, or 33% of all state bridges, classified as functionally obsolete. This means
the bridge does not meet design standards that are in line with current practice.
 State and local contract awards for bridge construction totaled $367.88 million over the past
five years, 52 percent of highway and bridge contract awards, compared to a national average of
29 percent.
 Since 2004, 57 new bridges have been constructed in the state and 50 bridges have undergone
major reconstruction.
 The state estimates that it would cost approximately $2.8 billion to fix a total of 719 bridges in
the state.2
Bridge Inventory:
All Bridges Structurally deficient Bridges
Type of Bridge
Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Rural Bridges
Interstate 11 5,342 286,693 2 619 48,800
Other principal arterial 15 6,888 159,066 2 2,346 17,785
Minor arterial 9 2,284 45,640 2 655 7,900
Major collector 23 7,380 119,638 7 2,767 23,418
Minor collector 22 6,805 33,004 1 46 1,800
Local 30 3,202 16,460 11 1,056 3,900
Urban Bridges
Interstate 132 214,510 7,728,595 21 35,540 1,100,334
Other freeway 117 238,568 2,853,520 34 39,139 795,068
Principal arterial 123 122,912 2,111,766 29 25,890 635,875
Minor arterial 147 116,516 1,866,795 33 42,977 441,335
Collector 84 40,492 427,109 16 7,542 61,383
Rural 53 17,461 157,730 16 3,520 32,810
Total 766 782,360 15,806,016 174 162,098 3,170,408
1
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a bridge is classified as structurally deficient if the condition rating for the deck,
superstructure, substructure or culvert and retaining walls is rated 4 or below or if the bridge receives an appraisal rating of 2 or less for
structural condition or waterway adequacy. During inspections, the condition of a variety of bridge elements are rated on a scale of 0 (failed
condition) to 9 (excellent condition). A rating of 4 is considered “poor” condition and the individual element displays signs of advanced section
loss, deterioration, spalling or scour.
2
This data is provided by bridge owners as part of the FHWA data and is required for any bridge eligible for the Highway Bridge Replacement
and Rehabilitation Program. However, for some states this amount is very low and likely not an accurate reflection of current costs.
State Bridge Profile
Rhode Island

2. © 2015 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Proposed bridge work:
Type of Work Number Cost (millions) Daily Crossings Area (sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 2 $6.0 6,000 818
Widening & rehabilitation 0 $0.0 0 0
Rehabilitation 715 $2,760.9 14,897,718 702,766
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 0 $0.0 0 0
Other work 2 $0.1 3,050 3,633
Top 10 Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in the State:
County
Year
Built
Daily
Crossings
Type of Bridge Location
Providence 1965 186,500 Urban Interstate I-95 NB & SB over US-1 (Elmwood Avenue)
Providence 1964 179,600
Urban other
principal arterial
Broad Street over I-95 NB & SB and the P&W Railroad
Providence 1964 159,200 Urban Interstate I-95 NB & SB over Amtrak
Kent 1966 156,400 Urban Interstate I-95 NB & SB over Jefferson Boulevard
Providence 1964 147,934 Urban Interstate I-95 NB & SB over Wellington Avenue
Kent 1958 77,800 Urban Interstate I-95 NB & SB over RI-2/Quaker Lane
Providence 1969 76,700 Urban Interstate I-195 WB over the Seekonk River
Providence 1957 72,800
Urban
freeway/expressway
RI-146/Ed Dowl Highway over RI-15/Mineral Spring Avenue
Providence 1956 72,800
Urban
freeway/expressway
RI-146/Ed Dowl Highway over RI-246/Charles Street
Providence 1969 52,678 Urban minor arterial US-6 EB & WB over US-6A/Hartford Avenue
Sources: All data is from the 2014 National Bridge Inventory, released by the Federal Highway Administration in January 2015.
Note that specific conditions on bridge may have changed as a result of recent work. Cost estimates of bridge work provided as
part of the data and have been adjusted to 2014$ for inflation and estimated project costs. Contract awards data is for state
and local government awards and comes from McGraw Hill. Note that additional bridge investment may be a part of other
contract awards if a smaller bridge project is included with a highway project, and that would not be accounted for in the total
in this profile.