BARRINGTON - Time is running out for the old Barrington River bridge. Last Wednesday, an unassuming truck trailered an unassuming white mobile home to the open lot next to the bridge, unhitched it, and left. The small trailer, about 30 feet long, nevertheless brings big news: The beginning of the end for the old bridge — and the long-awaited construction of a new one.

The trailer will serve as a workers' headquarters during demolition of the old concrete span, which has stood since the beginning of the century but will soon fall as part of a $10.4 million project to replace the aging bridge.

The Providence-based Shire Corporation was awarded a contract for the job in September by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (DOT), and workers are expected to start work presently. Already, the office is being used as officials work on their plans and take preliminary measurements.

The old Barrington River Bridge will soon be torn down to make way for a new span.

DOT Deputy Chief Bridge Engineer Kazem Farhoumand was expected to meet with Shire officials this week to review the contractor's plan to demolish the bridge, and present his own suggestions if needed.

"Right now we're getting a detailed construction schedule," he said last Wednesday. "We should know next week more about the timeline."

He said workers will probably begin taking down the old bridge before winter. The entire project should be complete by 2005 or 2006, he said.

The work comes none too soon for Barrington residents, who have waited nine years for the project to begin.

DOT officials first proposed tearing down the old Barrington River and Palmer River bridges in 1994 and in 1996 built temporary bridges next to each so the older ones could be torn down and replaced. But budget constraints and other delays pushed back the starting date for reconstruction time and again.

Shire would beat out six other contractors for the job, which includes 163 sub-projects. A bridge spanning the Palmer River will be built once the Barrington job is completed; that job has not yet gone to bid.

Work took nine years to start

* January 1994: Bridges' replacement first proposed by DOT. Estimate of completion set at late 1996 or early 1997.

* March 1995: Permanent bridge opening estimate pushed back to spring 2001.

* June 1996: Construction of temporary bridges begins.

* July 1997: Temporary bridges open to traffic.

* February 2002: DOT bridge engineer says construction contract could go out later in the year.

* September 2003: Job contract awarded.

* 2005-2006: Rough completion date estimate.

By Ted Hayes

thayes@eastbaynewspapers.com