I-195 pedestrian bridge design work re-started, construction could begin in summer

THE STATE AND THE I-195 REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION have indicated that the recently stalled design work on the pedestrian bridge connecting the east and west parcels of the former Interstate 195 land across the Providence River has re-started. They add that construction on the structure could begin as soon as next summer. / COURTESY INFORM STUDIO
THE STATE AND THE I-195 REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION have indicated that the recently stalled design work on the pedestrian bridge connecting the east and west parcels of the former Interstate 195 land across the Providence River has re-started. They add that construction on the structure could begin as soon as next summer. / COURTESY INFORM STUDIO

PROVIDENCE – Development of a new pedestrian bridge crossing the Providence River and connecting the I-195 Redevelopment District sites on both banks, appears to be back on again.

The R.I. Department of Transportation said Friday design work will resume on the bridge, as well as the adjoining park landings. Bridge construction could be expected as soon as the summer, according to Charles St. Martin, a department spokesman.

“After discussions this week among RIDOT, the governor’s office, the I-195 Commission leadership and the Executive Office of Commerce, all are in agreement regarding the re-initiation of the design of the parks and the bridge,” St. Martin said.

The cost to complete both parks and bridges is $17 million, and the state DOT has those funds available from the highway land sales, according to St. Martin.

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Design plans for the parks, now cleared land, are 30 percent complete, St. Martin said. Design of the pedestrian bridge is at 90 percent completion. Construction of the bridge could begin this summer, followed by development of the parks in summer 2017, he said.

Earlier this summer, the state DOT director had said the pedestrian bridge was being re-evaluated. At that time, he said the reason was a systemic re-evaluation of all bridge projects given financial resources.

St. Martin on Friday said design work had paused on both the bridge and the parks after a proposal surfaced that could have altered the designs considerably. That development, proposed by the Pawtucket Red Sox, would have placed a new ballpark on the park site on the west side of the river. Team owners have since recalled their proposal and said they will seek an alternate location for the ball park.

Last week, Joseph F. Azrack, executive director of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, described the bridge as an asset that was critically important for commercial development of the district parcels, and said he planned to pursue discussions with the state.

On Friday, through a spokeswoman, he said those discussions continue. “We are working closely with the DOT toward realization of the pedestrian bridge and development of the I-195 park lands,” he said.

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