New Sakonnet River Bridge to open late

TIVERTON, R.I. (WPRI) - A new bridge being built over the Sakonnet River will not meet a May deadline for opening.

The Department of Transportation tells Eyewitness News that northbound lanes on the new bridge will open this summer. Southbound lanes won't open to traffic until the late summer early fall.

The DOT still anticipates completing the entire project in May 2013.

The new span will replace a deteriorating bridge that carries Route 24 over the Sakonnet River between Tiverton and Portsmouth. It was built in 1956.

The contract includes a $10,000 daily disincentive, plus an additional $16,500 in daily liquidated damages for finishing after May 11, 2012.

A disincentive provision recovers damages to the motoring public for late completion as a result of the lost use of the facility.

A liquidated damages provision recovers the State's construction oversight costs associated with a contractor's failure to complete the project on time.