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Rhode Island Bridge Crisis Becomes Central Democratic Primary Issue
The Washington Bridge is an important road crossing near Providence, Rhode Island.
In December 2023, engineers found serious problems and part of the bridge was closed.
This made daily travel much harder for many people.
The state decided to remove the damaged structure and build a new bridge.
The replacement is not expected to be finished until 2028.
Governor Dan McKee says closing the bridge quickly kept people safe.
His critics say his administration should have handled the problem faster.
Helena Foulkes is using the bridge crisis to argue that Rhode Island needs new leadership.
The dispute has made the bridge a major issue in the 2026 Democratic primary.
The Washington Bridge was partly closed in December 2023 after engineers found serious structural problems.
The closure caused major traffic disruption, and a replacement bridge is now expected to be completed in 2028.
Governor Dan McKee says he acted decisively to protect public safety and has highlighted rebuilding progress and federal funding.
Challenger Helena Foulkes and other critics say McKee’s administration responded too slowly and retained the transportation chief too long.
Foulkes leads McKee by 15 percentage points in a recent Emerson College poll ahead of the September 9, 2026, Democratic primary.
- Who
- Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Democratic primary challenger Helena Foulkes are the main political figures; commuters, state officials, and companies involved in the bridge’s past work are also affected.
- What
- The Washington Bridge closure and delayed replacement have become central issues in Rhode Island’s Democratic gubernatorial primary.
- Where
- The Washington Bridge crosses Interstate 195 between Providence and Rhode Island’s eastern suburbs, connecting toward southeastern Massachusetts.
- When
- One side of the bridge closed in December 2023; the Democratic primary is scheduled for September 9, 2026, and the replacement is expected in 2028.
- Why
- The closure created prolonged traffic disruption and raised questions about government accountability, infrastructure management, and McKee’s leadership.
McKee and Administration
Foulkes and Critics
Response to the structural emergency
McKee and Administration
McKee says he took decisive action after an engineer disclosed failures that could have caused the bridge to collapse, putting public safety first.
Foulkes and Critics
Critics argue that the administration handled the crisis too slowly and that McKee should have acted more aggressively after the closure.
Responsibility for the bridge’s condition
McKee and Administration
The state has pursued legal action against companies that previously worked on the bridge, alleging that their failures contributed to its condition.
Foulkes and Critics
The companies dispute that responsibility and argue that the state ultimately bore responsibility.
Leadership and political change
McKee and Administration
McKee presents himself as focused on working-class voters and points to federal funding and construction progress.
Foulkes and Critics
Foulkes presents herself as a change candidate and criticizes McKee’s leadership, while McKee attacks her corporate record at CVS and its role in the opioid crisis.
Key facts
- Bridge closure
- One side of the roughly 60-year-old Washington Bridge was closed in December 2023 after serious structural problems were discovered.
- Replacement timeline
- The replacement bridge is expected to be completed in 2028.
- Political contest
- Governor Dan McKee is seeking reelection in a Democratic primary against former CVS executive Helena Foulkes.
- Primary date
- Rhode Island’s Democratic primary is scheduled for September 9, 2026.
- Polling
- A recent Emerson College poll cited by The New York Times showed Foulkes leading McKee by 15 percentage points.
- Legal dispute
- Rhode Island sued companies that previously worked on the bridge; those companies disputed responsibility and argued that the state ultimately bore responsibility.
- Previous primary
- McKee defeated Foulkes by a few thousand votes in the 2022 Democratic primary.
Sources
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