Spend a little now or a lot later — that’s the message that Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) director Lori Caron Silveira was trying to convey in a memo to congressional staffers, as reported in GoLocalProv on Dec. 7.

“It is critical that we get the dehumidification project underway as soon as possible or face the prospect of having to replace the cables at a cost of $300 million or even replace the Mount Hope altogether at a cost of $1 billion,” the memo read. “Dehumidification of the Mount Hope is a $35 million project.”

She says that the GoLocal report misrepresented her communication, claiming she “hit the panic button” and said that “lack of proper maintenance over the years is creating an emergency situation” — neither of which are true.

“That’s not true, the bridge is properly maintained,” she said, “I did not hit the panic button and I did not use the term ‘emergency.’ I said it was urgent that we begin this project, which is true.”

The issue is within the two main cables supporting the nearly 100-year-old bridge. Each cable is comprised of 7 strands of 350 wires, for a total of 2450 wires in each. Breakage from normal wear and tear, accelerated by humidity, is normal and expected; it’s also discovered and remedied during periodic routine inspections of the structure. Humidity levels in the cables are managed by maintaining a protective barrier of metals and paint on the cables, but that barrier is invariably breached. Recently, RITBA engineers recognized that rising humidity levels resulting from climate change have accelerated this process.

The $35 million solution
Dehumidification technology is something that was not not around when the Mt. Hope Bridge was built in 1929, nor was it around when the Pell Bridge was finished in 1969 — but it is standard now. It is being retroactively applied to extend the life of suspension bridges around the country, most notably and currently on New York’s George Washington Bridge. The process involves encasing the cables in a sleeve through which dry air circulates, regulating and maintaining the environment at 40 percent humidity.

“If the Mt. Hope Bridge were built today, this dehumidification system would be built into it,” said Silveira. “This is a process that will arrest corrosion. It could buy the bridge another 50 years.”

If Silveira is feeling a sense of urgency, it’s about getting this process started. Dehumidification does not happen overnight, and RIBTA engineers want to see those cables at 40 percent humidity within 5-7 years, so time is of the essence to take this $35 million option.

The $35 million price tag is not insignificant, until you consider the alternatives. The next most affordable solution to maintaining the life of the cables is supplementation, followed by cable replacement. Silveira says she has seen a few different numbers, but each of these options comes in at roughly $300 and $500 million, respectively. The last option, replacement of the bridge itself, would come with a $1 billion price tag. As Silveira sees it, $35 million looks like a relative bargain.

“We think this is a golden opportunity and a great use of federal funds that have become available,” she said.

Unfortunately, RITBA was already spending significantly on priorities including automatic tolling when COVID hit, and a combination of reduced tolls plus reduced income from their share of the state gas tax have hit the agency to the tune of about $20 million over the course of the pandemic, to date.

RITBA was recently denied a $25 million grant from the federal Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, but Silveira remains hopeful RITBA will receive assistance from the $1.1 billion in American Rescue Plan funds directed to Rhode Island. They are also looking into other federal programs, including climate resiliency programs, to see if this project would be a match for other funding opportunities.

“I’m optimistic that our State and Federal leaders appreciate the urgency of this project and they will come through for us,” she said.