Motorists driving across the Barrington River Bridge may have noticed a barge anchored off the south side of the span. 

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Spokesman Charles St. Martin said the state is beginning a project to provide “scour protection” to the footings of the Barrington Bridge. 

“This type of maintenance occurs on bridges throughout the state, particular those over rivers with swift moving currents that, over time, can erode the river bottom at the base of bridge walls and piers,” St. Martin wrote in a message to the Barrington Times. 

“In this particular location, we will install large rocks (called rip rap) at the base of the bridge’s foundations to protect the piers from this erosion.”

The Barrington River Bridge was completed in 2009, after lengthy delays and millions of dollars in cost overruns. The hired contractor, Shire Corporation, won the rights to build the bridge, bidding $10.3 million, but by the time the structure was finished, the cost was more than double the original bid.

In 2019, an inspection by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation categorized the overall bridge condition as "poor" and noted specific problems with the bridge's substructure. That report stated that there was "advanced scour adjacent to the substructure," and that "isolated areas of minor undermining may exist."

Repairs were reportedly made in the fall of 2019, and St. Martin, when asked whether it was normal for a 10-year-old bridge to show that type of wear-and-tear, said "Every bridge is different. Every water body is different."

Upcoming work

St. Martin said divers recently examined the bridge’s foundation and helped officials determine the location for the barge, which is needed for this type of work.

“In addition to the scour protection work, we’ll also perform some drainage and concrete repairs above the water,” St. Martin wrote. “We expect most of the work to take place without the need for lane closures on the bridge. Any necessary lane closures would be scheduled outside of busy travel times for Route 114.”

St. Martin said there are some restrictions for when crews can work in the water, but the project was permitted to begin in mid-October. 

“Because of the restrictions, there may be periods of time when no work is taking place,” St. Martin wrote. 

Officials are expecting all the work to be completed by the winter of 2027-2028.