State says repair of bridge too costly

WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) - Officials are considering whether to abandon efforts to fix a bridge in Westerly despite spending nearly $900,000 already on repairs.

The Westerly Sun reports that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has said fixing the 75-year-old West Street Bridge is too costly to continue.

Since the overpass was closed in 2001 the town spent about $488,000 and the state about $400,000 to remodel it.

Department engineer David Fish told Westerly town officials in a letter Monday that fixing the bridge was no longer economically feasible.

New estimates show repairs costing $3 million more than officials originally believed after inspectors found unexpected deterioration in some sections.

It could now cost about $200,000 to demolish the bridge.