Preparations to raze the dilapidated west side portion of the Washington Bridge structure began in recent weeks with the erection of protective netting and the start of asphalt removal from the driving tarmac.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said ripping out the bridge surface, as weather dictates, is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete.

Aetna Bridge Co. was awarded the contract to demolish the 56-year-old westbound side, which was abruptly shuttered by RIDOT and Governor Dan McKee on Dec. 11, 2023, due to serious structure deficiencies and the potential of imminent integrity issues.

Westbound traffic was subsequently rerouted to the newer and separate eastbound section of the bridge in the spring of 2024, the third-of-a-mile span completed in 2008 divided into three lanes of travel in each direction.

According to Charles St. Martin, Chief of Public Affairs for RIDOT, Aetna is the lead contractor for the entire demolition effort and is overseeing the initial phases.

The Warwick-based company, which just last month was one of 13 contractors sued by the state for their alleged "breach of contract, fiduciary duty, and negligence" in the bridge fiasco, was awarded the contract to demolish the west side structure in June with a bid of $45.8 million. The Aetna submission included an approximate timeframe of late January 2025 for the completion of the demo.

The contractor is continuing to move equipment to the location, including the docking for the time being of a couple of large barges at the East Providence shoreline in the Seekonk River abutting a private parcel on Water Street. St. Martin noted the barges will hold the cranes used in the teardown as well as collect and transport the debris.

At the moment, St. Martin said he could provide no further details about the next step(s) in the removal process such as when concrete elements or structural steel would begin to be taken down.