Originally constructed in 1942, Louisquisset Pike Bridge carries Route 146 over Route 116 (George Washington Highway) and transports approximately 47,000 vehicles per day. By 2007, the bridge had reached the end of its service life, having been deemed structurally deficient, with significant load-carrying elements in poor condition. Existing ramp configurations between Routes 146 and 116 posed a safety hazard and did not meet design standards established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
VHB was the lead designer of a design-build team that worked to reconstruct the bridge with new two-span steel girder bridge replacements. Our team’s design provided a safer interchange that removed and realigned the ramps to improve operational safety, replacing the substandard back-to-back Route 146 Southbound ramps with a new signalized interchange. The new configuration decreased the bridge footprint, saving RIDOT future maintenance costs. VHB designed the bridge piers to avoid existing underground utility relocation and implemented Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) methods, supporting the new bridge on Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE)-supported stub abutments and expediting the project schedule using Early Release Packages to facilitate construction activities in advance of final design and permitting approvals.
